Air conditioning debate highlights UK housing regulation concerns
Growing environmental restrictions on air conditioning in new residential developments have sparked debate about the balance between sustainability goals and housing delivery, according to a North London estate agent. Trevor…
Liverpool estate agency launches AI property valuation tool
A Liverpool-based estate agency has launched a free AI-powered property valuation service that aims to address what its founders describe as widespread overpricing in the UK housing market. Howsold, an…
Leeds letting agent dismissed after benefits discrimination claims
A Leeds-based letting agency has terminated an employee following the emergence of a recording in which the staff member appears to discuss filtering out prospective tenants who claim benefits. The…
School group secures £1.75m bridge loan on West Kensington block
A private school group has secured £1.75 million in bridging finance against a block of buy-to-let flats in West Kensington to address liquidity pressures stemming from VAT changes in the…
OakNorth provides £11.7m for self-storage expansion
OakNorth has provided £11.7m in development finance to Cinch Self Storage to fund two purpose-built facilities in Bedford and Leeds, adding more than 120,000 sq ft of lettable space to…
Dexters expands London network with Fraser & Co acquisition
London estate agency Dexters has acquired Fraser & Co, adding four London offices and a Hong Kong presence to its existing network. The deal brings more than 30 employees into…
Michael Bruce returns to Purplebricks as director
Michael Bruce has been officially reinstated as a director at Purplebricks’ parent company Strike, according to Companies House records filed this week, confirming earlier reports of the founder’s return to…
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…