Your weekend roundup of news, views and features

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.

GUEST BLOG: How to win an agency award

As the entry deadline for The Negotiator Awards nears, best-selling author and founder of August Awards, Donna O'Toole offers her recipe for success – sign up for her webinar.

Click here to read GUEST BLOG: How to win an agency award.

OFFICIAL: Property sales market 'treading water' as Budget looms

Buyers and sellers delaying moves ahead of the Budget amid uncertainty over potential tax changes, according to the latest HMRC property transaction data.

Click here to read OFFICIAL: Property sales market 'treading water' as Budget looms.

New build property sales drop to lowest in over 15 years

Savills says the last time sales of new homes were this dire was before the global financial crash of 2008-09, in what will be a blow to Housing Secretary Steve Reed.

Click here to read New build property sales drop to lowest in over 15 years.

Need cash to get qualified? New generous bursaries revealed

The Propertymark Trust has extended its Class of 25 initiative and is inviting applications from those looking to gain industry qualifications, with bursaries available of up to 100%.

Click here to read Need cash to get qualified? New generous bursaries revealed.

HMRC Stamp Duty investigations double in a year

Angela Rayner case has increased scrutiny of the accuracy of Stamp Duty payments, with the taxman recovering £201m in just twelve months.

Click here to read HMRC Stamp Duty investigations double in a year.

Foxtons’ branch blockaded during Global Day of Housing Action

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.

The Ombudsman Files – Deposit registration failure leads to landlord compensation

A case concerning a dispute between a landlord and letting agent over the handling of a tenancy deposit results in huge compensation pay out.

Click here to read The Ombudsman Files – Deposit registration failure leads to landlord compensation.

xxxx

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

Click here to read xxxx.

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.

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.

INTERVIEW: Does property industry reform really need Government intervention?

In a recent discussion with Roxanne Barker, CEO & Founder of Fix My Legals, we discussed whether the property industry can go it alone rather than wait for Government meddling

Click here to read INTERVIEW: Does property industry reform really need Government intervention?.

xxx

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

Click here to read xxx.

Minister insists new warm homes rules won’t drive up rents

Official Government impact modelling warns some landlords may sell up or pass compliance costs on through higher rents.

Click here to read Minister insists new warm homes rules won’t drive up rents.

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.

LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering

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

Click here to read LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering.

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.

James Cleverly named as new Shadow Housing Minister in Badenoch reshuffle

The ex-Foreign Secretary becomes Angela Rayner's opposite number in Parliament, taking over the role of Shadow Housing Minister from Kevin Hollinrake.

Click here to read James Cleverly named as new Shadow Housing Minister in Badenoch reshuffle.

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.

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.

Click here to read AGENT BLOG: After Scotland's rent cap lifted, guess what happened next?.

'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.

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.

Click here to read AUCTION UPDATE: Residential sales driving resilience in auction market.

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.

COLUMN: How the Government’s tax grab is causing ordinary people to flee the UK

Adam Walker demonstrates how successful property professionals are being penalised financially, to the point that they are leaving the UK market.

Click here to read COLUMN: How the Government’s tax grab is causing ordinary people to flee the UK.

x

The corporate estate agency has found the number of new properties to let has risen in every month since March.

Click here to read x.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FEATURE: Losing your telephone voice? Outsourcing could be the answer

If video killed the radio star, has email killed the telephone? How will AI intervene? Lisa Isaacs explores call answering and telephony in 2026.

Click here to read FEATURE: Losing your telephone voice? Outsourcing could be the answer.

New builds damage local house prices, data reveals

The arrival of a new estates can knock as much as 18.5% off the value of nearby homes in more rural areas, according to analysis carried out by newspaper.

Click here to read New builds damage local house prices, data reveals.

Asking prices rise fastest in less desirable areas - new data

Colleen Babcock at Rightmove says the cheapest locations, especially in the North and Scotland, are seeing the largest increases in property asking prices.

Click here to read Asking prices rise fastest in less desirable areas - new data.

Conveyancers raise serious concerns over “untested commonholds”

Industry body warns commonhold changes could increase disputes, create deadlock, undermine lender confidence and introduce complex new legal structures.

Click here to read Conveyancers raise serious concerns over “untested commonholds”.

Government publishes draft bill on leasehold reform

Property industry offers cautious welcome to long-awaited reforms, while warning delivery, timing and detail will be critical.

Click here to read Government publishes draft bill on leasehold reform.

BLOG: 'Making Tax Digital' cliff-edge is looming

From 6th April 2026, MTD becomes an operational reality that will decide which agencies thrive, and which quietly fall behind, says LettsPay’s, Commercial Director Matthew Gibbard.

Click here to read BLOG: 'Making Tax Digital' cliff-edge is looming.