MPs call for stamp duty overhaul to boost homeownership
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has called for significant reforms to Stamp Duty Land Tax, arguing the current system creates barriers to homeownership and slows property market activity.…
‘Cuckooing’ crime affects 1,500 London properties
A BBC investigation has identified 1,539 incidents of ‘cuckooing’ reported to police in London between May 2025 and April 2026, where drug gangs have taken over residential properties from vulnerable…
NAO reveals royal property sub-letting arrangements
A National Audit Office report has disclosed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received rental income from sub-letting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, which he leased from the Crown Estate. The…
Northern Labour MPs call for land value tax to replace council tax
A group of northern Labour MPs is calling on Andy Burnham to replace Council Tax with a Land Value Tax, arguing the current system creates unfair burdens on lower-value properties…
Agent ordered to pay £575 after non-disclosure ruling
A property agent has been ordered to reimburse a buyer £575 in survey costs after failing to disclose that a property was of non-standard construction, according to a recent case…
Property prices near top-rated nurseries carry £78,000 premium
Properties located near nurseries rated highly by Ofsted are selling at a significant premium, with homebuyers paying an average of £77,926 more to secure proximity to top-rated childcare facilities, according…
Borrowers shift to two-year mortgages despite rate premium
Property buyers are increasingly opting for two-year fixed-rate mortgages despite higher rates, according to new data from financial comparison site Moneyfacts, prompting warnings from industry body Propertymark about basing decisions…
Government rejects new HMO conversion restrictions
The Government has declined to introduce new legislation restricting the conversion of family homes into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), stating that local authorities already possess adequate planning powers to…
LendInvest provides £3.51m for Bromley NHS site conversion
LendInvest has completed a £3.51 million development finance facility for the conversion of a former NHS building in Bromley into 16 residential flats, closing the transaction in 6.5 weeks to…
Investec provides £19.25m for Birmingham student scheme
Investec Bank has provided a £19.25 million senior development loan to Barwood for a 233-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The 36-month facility will finance development and stabilisation…