Your weekend roundup of top news




Foxtons buys rival’s lettings book for £2.2 million<br />

London's best-known agency has bought 689 tenancies and ten staff from Aston Rowe, which will continue to trade as a sales operation.

Click here to read Foxtons buys rival’s lettings book for £2.2 million<br />.



Couple build lettings agency from scratch into 1,000 property portfolio in 12 years<br />

Husband and wife team Peter and Rani Grieve from Worcester have hit the mark after making their fifth local acquisition.

Click here to read Couple build lettings agency from scratch into 1,000 property portfolio in 12 years<br />.



What downturn? Connells to recruit 250 more agents with more later<br />

Agency says jobs will be at Connells and Sequence branches with more roles for other brands later on.

Click here to read What downturn? Connells to recruit 250 more agents with more later<br />.



The Negotiator Magazine's leading columnists share their wisdom

Between them, Adam Walker and Nathan Emerson have over 70 years of business and agency experience. In The November edition of The Negotiator Magazine they give their best advice on planning and coping with the Covid crisis.

Click here to read The Negotiator Magazine's leading columnists share their wisdom.



Connells now ‘ready to buy Countrywide’ after completing due diligence

Connells' David Livesey says again that the Alchemy deal to finance Countrywide will not sort out its financial and operational problems.

Click here to read Connells now ‘ready to buy Countrywide’ after completing due diligence.



Estate agency launches complaint over corporate rival’s ‘very similar’ new tagline

James Pendleton claims its trademark tagline The Home of Property Experts could have been infringed by Hampton's new company moniker.

Click here to read Estate agency launches complaint over corporate rival’s ‘very similar’ new tagline.



Lenders refuse to back cladding initiative to help 450,000 trapped owners sell

Banks and building societies say they weren't consulted on EWS1 form exemption announcement made over weekend by government.

Click here to read Lenders refuse to back cladding initiative to help 450,000 trapped owners sell.



Sunak reveals extra £7.1 billion to boost house building… but what about stamp duty?

Chancellor reveals eye-watering debt and extra spending following pandemic, but industry wonders why he ignored industry lobbying.

Click here to read Sunak reveals extra £7.1 billion to boost house building… but what about stamp duty?.



The Negotiator is a winner… for our industry gala awards events – The Negotiator Awards!

The Awards Awards held on Friday revealed The Negotiator Awards as a Bronze winner in its 'industry specific' category.

Click here to read The Negotiator is a winner… for our industry gala awards events – The Negotiator Awards!.



Covid-safety – have you done a Risk Assessment?

Even estate agency has its dangers in these Covid days, says Risk Assessment expert Louise Hosking – and it’s your responsibility to keep everyone safe. 

Click here to read Covid-safety – have you done a Risk Assessment?.



Guest post: "Critics of leasehold miss the mark"

Leaseholds have been painted as the villain of the cladding and ground rent scandals, but it is government inaction over many years which is the root cause, says Mary-Anne Bowring, MD, Ringley Group.

Click here to read Guest post: "Critics of leasehold miss the mark".