Your weekend roundup of news, views and features

FEATURE: CRM software platform focus: 'Property tech that stacks up'

Lisa Isaacs discovers CRMs are the foundation of the property tech stack, with integrations bringing the best software under one roof.

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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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Chancellor to relaunch mortgage guarantee scheme for first-time buyers

Rachel Reeves is to confirm that Freedom to Buy is being introduced to help first-time buyers on a permanent basis.

Click here to read Chancellor to relaunch mortgage guarantee scheme for first-time buyers.

COLUMN: Labour's first year – what do we think of the show so far?

The Neg passes a critical eye over the Labour Party's track record on housing a year after its thumping election win.

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Half a million towards ending homelessness

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) has announced that it has facilitated the donation of over £500,000 to its homelessness charity partner, St Mungo’s.

Click here to read Half a million towards ending homelessness.

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.

Click here to read Airbnb 'won't take down illegally-sublet listings' claims landlord.

Council claims landlords don't need ‘expensive’ letting agents

Dorset Council says its scheme provides substantial savings for landlords when compared to traditional letting agencies.

Click here to read Council claims landlords don't need ‘expensive’ letting agents.

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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FEATURE: 7 types of estate agency marketing content that really work

Varying your marketing content helps you reach niche audiences, match form to channel and reinforce your message, says Nelly Berova.

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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.

Click here to read CLAIM: High St agents face double threat of rising costs and stiffer competition.

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.

Click here to read Guild reports 'thousands of referrals' via network.

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%.

Click here to read Number of former rental properties for sale rises as CGT changes loom.

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.

Click here to read Estate agent duo recognised for sales success at global event.

'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.

Click here to read 'Criminal’ landlord trio hit with huge £450k HMO fine.

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.

Click here to read Bill to ban Section 21 evictions published – industry reaction.

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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.

Click here to read Airbnb set to compete with lettings agents for longer rentals.

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.

Click here to read Decade of dedication for The Propertymark Trust.

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.

Click here to read Huge rise in number of sales fall-throughs reported.

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.

Click here to read New workers' rights shake-up to impact estate agencies.

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.

Click here to read Foxtons makes surprise move into London commuter towns with acquisitions.

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.

Click here to read Stamp Duty hike to ‘damage’ rental market warn auctioneers.

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.

Click here to read COURTS: Landlord wins 'important' appeal in rent to rent case.

Foxtons’ branch blockaded during Global Day of Housing Action

RENTERS' RIGHTS BILL: Why Labour suddenly dropped pet damage insurance rule

Minister shines a light on last week's U-turn which pulled Labour's requirement that tenants take out pet insurance should landlords require it.

Click here to read RENTERS' RIGHTS BILL: Why Labour suddenly dropped pet damage insurance rule.

Millions still face remortgage 'pinch', Bank of England warns

Around 3.6 million households in the UK will have to renegotiate their mortgages over the next three years.

Click here to read Millions still face remortgage 'pinch', Bank of England warns.

Ministers under pressure to ban 'conditional selling' by estate agents

New campaign by FT Advisor backed by HomeOwners Alliance wants mortgage brokers to lobby their MPs and ask questions at PMQs in Parliament.

Click here to read Ministers under pressure to ban 'conditional selling' by estate agents.

EXPERT VIEW: The practical consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill for agents

Solicitor, Neli Borisova, looks behind the headlines about how the Renters’ Rights Bill will impact the services agents provide to landlords.

Click here to read EXPERT VIEW: The practical consequences of the Renters’ Rights Bill for agents.

PRODUCT FOCUS - a CRM based on responsiveness and expertise

Rentman is a ‘Line of Business’ application created by Nigel Gomm, with all the functionality you need to run your sales and lettings business – in one place.

Click here to read PRODUCT FOCUS - a CRM based on responsiveness and expertise.