Your weekend roundup of news, views and features

PROPERTY FIRST: Industry trio complete 'fully digital purchase'

In what boss Joe Pepper is calling a ‘landmark achievement’, fintech firm PEXA has completed the country’s first fully digital house purchase transaction.

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Guild reports 'thousands of referrals' via network

Guild of Property Professionals chief Iain McKenzie says its referral system has generated 2,086 referrals for its network since the start of the year.

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Landlord confidence rising despite looming Renters’ Rights Bill

The number of landlords planning on leaving the PRS is falling according to the latest survey by Spareroom but smaller operators 'remain a concern'.

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AUCTION UPDATE: Residential sales driving resilience in auction market

The latest property auction market insights from Essential information Group's David Leary reveals the dominance of residential sales.

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Nearly half of landlords to raise rent ahead of Renters' Rights Bill

Buy-to-let lender Landbay says 44% of landlords want to raise rents before the bill is enacted as expected later this year, after which hiking rents will become more difficult.

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Number of former rental properties for sale rises as CGT changes loom

Research by Rightmove among its listings shows the proportion of former rented properties within the market rising to 18%.

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LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering

MD Paul Hardy announces strategic partnership with B-hive Block Management to boost franchisees' growth potential.

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Estate agent duo recognised for sales success at global event

Mark Buchanan and Amie Brooks, both of whom work within the eXp UK network, flew to the gala estate agent event in Miami.

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Airbnb 'won't take down illegally-sublet listings' claims landlord

The short-lets giant has not taken down a listing despite being informed that the Central London property is being illegally sublet, it is claimed.

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CLAIM: High St agents face double threat of rising costs and stiffer competition

Bricks-and-mortar estate agencies facing higher staff costs and increased competition from the growing number of ‘personal’ agents according to Property Experts founder.

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'Criminal’ landlord trio hit with huge £450k HMO fine

A group of three West Northants landlords have together been fined a total of £452,796 for a series of unlicensed and unsafe HMOs.

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Bill to ban Section 21 evictions published – industry reaction

The Government takes its first step towards scrapping Section 21 'no fault' evictions with the first reading in Parliament of the Renters' Rights Bill.

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Walsall is consulting on plans that will force both the owners of smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation to apply for planning permission.

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Airbnb set to compete with lettings agents for longer rentals

Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky says the company is eyeing longer-term rentals as a lucrative new area of business, putting his firm soon in direct competition with some agents.

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Decade of dedication for The Propertymark Trust

Veteran estate agency manager and property consultant, John Oakley, is celebrating 10 years as trustee of The Propertymark Trust.

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Huge rise in number of sales fall-throughs reported

Homebuyers are still struggling with higher mortgage rates and so more and more sales are falling through says Moverly’s Gemma Young.

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New workers' rights shake-up to impact estate agencies

Employees working for property businesses will be able to claim unfair dismissal from day one of a new job, under a new government bill.

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Foxtons makes surprise move into London commuter towns with acquisitions

The London-based agent has spent some £12m buying two estate agencies, one in Reading and the other in Watford, both bought from private shareholders.

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Residential auction market rebounds

April’s residential auction figures confirm a market regaining momentum in terms of both volume and value, says David Sandeman, Essential Information Group.

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AGENT BLOG: After Scotland's rent cap lifted, guess what happened next?

Nicky Lloyd of ESPC Lettings in Edinburgh reflects on the rental market in Scotland six months after a rent cap and ban on evictions were scrapped.

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Mark Ridley is to be replaced by current CFO Simon Shaw as Group Chief Executive of the blue-chip agency.

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Stamp Duty hike to ‘damage’ rental market warn auctioneers

2% rise in budget for SDLT will lead to investors exiting the market, reduce supply and push up rents says NAVA.

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COURTS: Landlord wins 'important' appeal in rent to rent case

Amlendu Kumar wins appeal in what a leading property lawyer says is an "important new decision" affecting rent-to-rent agreements and rent repayment orders.

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Foxtons’ branch blockaded during Global Day of Housing Action

What would happen if 'no fault evictions' are abolished immediately?

Industry trainer takes a cheeky look at could happen if, as renting campaigners want, Section 21 evictions are banned as soon as the Renters' Rights Bill goes live.

Click here to read What would happen if 'no fault evictions' are abolished immediately?.

London housing officers going 'door-to-door' to catch unlicensed HMOs

Brent Council’s enforcement officers are out in force in the streets as part of a borough-wide crackdown on rogue landlords.

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Welsh rugby legend’s estate agency opens second branch

Blackbear estate agency is expanding its territory after its 'phenomenal' success less than a year after its launch.

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HOUSE PRICES EXPERT: ‘Supply and demand is all over the place!’

Despite an enormous boost in transactions before the Stamp Duty changes, Kate Faulkner reports how supply and demand is not straightforward.

Click here to read HOUSE PRICES EXPERT: ‘Supply and demand is all over the place!’.

Connells acquires 750-strong lettings book and five branches

Industry giant reveals it has bought Aspire, an estate agency established 22 years ago by a well-known industry duo.

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