Here we are – EYE’s final contribution for what has been an extraordinary 12 months in the industry in the shape of a Quiz of the Year.

There is just one correct answer lurking in each of the multi-choices.

The last 12 months have proved unpredictable, and we suspect that next year will prove even more so: interesting, but not too interesting, we hope.

Meanwhile, we would like to wish all our readers a very happy festive break with gratitude that you continue on a daily basis to read and interact with us.

To our advertisers, warm thanks for your support and making it all possible. We are truly grateful

We intend being back on January 3 – but who knows? If something major happens between now and then, we will of course tell you about it.

 

1  Which country did Purplebricks expand into this year?

Austria

Australia

Utopia

Wales

 

2  What happened on April 1 this year?

Britain voted to leave the EU

America voted for Trump

The re-introduction of HIPs became an amendment of the new Housing and Planning Bill

Buyers of additional homes had to start paying an additional 3% Stamp Duty surcharge

 

3  Which estate agent brand saw the biggest share price fall the day after the EU referendum result?

Foxtons

Countrywide

Purplebricks

 

4  Portal juggling is:

Great fun

A game loosely based on a cross between real tennis and giant tiddlywinks and which is due to become a recognised Olympic sport in time for the 2020 Games – the UK intends fielding a team

An abuse of the listing of properties on portals

Easy

Legal

 

5  Whom did Gavin Barwell replace as housing minister in July?

Yvette Cooper

Brandon Lewis

Grant Shapps

Norman Wisdom

 

6  Which big agency brand took a stake in online agent YOPA in June?

eMoov

Martin & Co

Knight Frank

Savills

Foxtons

 

7  What happened after George Osborne announced in his March budget that he would call for evidence into the house buying process “shortly”?

The call was issued at midnight

The call was issued so secretly that no one apart from Mike Ockenden knew about it

Before any call can be issued, there will have to be EU approval followed by a statutory consultation, judicial review, impact assessment, scrutiny by a House of Commons committee chaired by Keith Vaz, and then primary legislation followed by the actual regulations

Absolutely nothing

The definition of “shortly” was changed nine months later by DCLG to “in due course”

 

8  When will the lettings fee ban in England be introduced?

This year

Next year

Some time, never

Whenever the Government decides it needs more votes in a hurry (although not, obviously, from agents)

We don’t know

 

9  Who is the current Property Ombudsman?

The post has been abolished as part of Brexit negotiations

It’s become a job share

Katrine Sporle

Paul Shamplina

 

10  Countrywide is currently carrying out a strategy called:

Destroying our future

I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue

Building our future

Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights

 

11  Which estate agent started this year off by appealing for agents anywhere in the UK to get in touch if they wanted to sell?

Countrywide

Dexters

Ewe Move

 

12  Who decided to stand down from their CEO role in March?

Alison Platt

Peter Rollings

Ed Mead

Michael Robson

 

13  Also in March, which two organisations merged?

Countrywide and Foxtons

Humberts and Chesterton

Dexters and Felicity J Lord

Romans and Leaders

NAEA and RICS

 

14  Who called the top of the market in May?

Paul Smith

David Smith

Russell Quirk

 

15  What appeared for the first time in June?

 The new official house price index

The announcement that the NAEA is going to have another crack at launching a property portal

A new Government policy making it illegal to be an agent called The Abolition of Estate Agents and Letting Agents (England) (Trading in Property) Bill 2016-12-17

 

16  In July, who was said to be shutting some 60 branches?

Countrywide

Purplebricks

eMoov

Dexters

Hmm. Just the 60?

 

17  What happened in August?

Nothing – that’s August for you

Three Foxtons agents lost their jobs after getting caught up in a brawl with class activists

The Sun revealed that agents have collectively raised a record £50m for charity in the year to date, all in their own time. Disgraceful! There is universal horror while the paper lambasts agents as ‘greedy’ and ‘failing to do their bit’ for society. Chancellor Philip Hammond announces further crackdowns

 

18  Which is the most recognised of all the UK property portals?

Rightmove – that’s why it’s always so happy

OnTheMarket

Houser – er, yes. Who?

Zoopla

 

19  As far as we know, what will the Government do in 2017?

Introduce a ban in England on letting fees charged to both tenants and landlords

Introduce a ban on all estate agency fees charged to vendors, but make online agents an exception

Make it illegal for managing agents to make a profit

Continue to allow letting agents to steal tenants’ deposits and rental money without necessarily having to face prosecution

Introduce rent controls

Introduce a 40% ‘higher rate’ of Stamp Duty on all properties bought by higher-rate income tax payers, after the Government announces it wishes to align the two taxes

Introduce a new, and more punishing, tax regime for landlords, starting in February

 

20  What was the stand-out event of 2016?

Kevin Hollinrake being appointed housing minister

Abolition of Stamp Duty Land Tax

Purplebricks saying it made a profit

A property coming on the market in London

The proptech industry re-branding, saying it now wishes to be known as “software”

Simon Whale being knighted for services to fashion