Your weekend roundup of top news and features




Brutal industry reaction as Purplebricks looks for 'new ownership structure'

When Purplebricks announced on Friday it was looking for a buyer it didn’t take long for the knives – and jokes – to come out. Industry reaction has been both funny and brutal.

Click here to read Brutal industry reaction as Purplebricks looks for 'new ownership structure'.



Sunak appoints replacement for housing minister - sixth in a year!

Rachel Maclean has been appointed as a DLUHC minister to take over from Lucy Frazer, who was promoted to the Cabinet.

Click here to read Sunak appoints replacement for housing minister - sixth in a year!.



Belvoir Group reports record revenue after £4 million jump

Revenue at the Group increased to a record £33.5 million from £29.6 million in 2021 buoyed by an increase on rents on new tenancies increasing by 10.8% during 2022.


Click here to read Belvoir Group reports record revenue after £4 million jump.



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The Neg's Head of Content, Nigel Lewis takes a long, cold look at the new bill to reform the PRS.

Click here to read xxxx.



MORTGAGE PAIN: Two-year deals more expensive after rate rise

Rightmove's home loans tracker shows that two-year fixed rate deals are 0.26% higher than a week ago.

Click here to read MORTGAGE PAIN: Two-year deals more expensive after rate rise.



Foxtons finally feels the 'Gittins gold' as profits surge 10%

Estate agency puts the bad old days behind it as recently-installed CEO says his strategies are working.

Click here to read Foxtons finally feels the 'Gittins gold' as profits surge 10%.



Has peak rental demand peaked passed? New data says yes

Figures from Barrows and Forrester reveal a quarterly and annual drop in tenant demand despite a crisis in the mortgage market pricing many people out.

Click here to read Has peak rental demand peaked passed? New data says yes.



Purplebricks launches national £999 selling fee under new ownership

Strike, which bought the firm for £1 just a few days ago, says bold new strategy will help grow the firm.
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Click here to read Purplebricks launches national £999 selling fee under new ownership.



BLOG: Want to go it alone? Here’s 10 tips to launch your estate agency

Property Webmasters boss Jamie Arthur highlights key actions that will help ensure success when setting up your own estate agency business. 

Click here to read BLOG: Want to go it alone? Here’s 10 tips to launch your estate agency.



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Find Properties will encourage agents to differentiate themselves by improving their own web presence which will also improve standards and competition.

Click here to read xxxxx.



New CEO takes over reins at big international property portal

Kyero Co-founders Martin and Louise Dell have handed the leadership role to Gemma Coles.

Click here to read New CEO takes over reins at big international property portal.



Rightmove launches month of legislation webinars for agents

Staying compliant continues to rank high on the list of concerns from agents and remains one of the most popular topics covered in the portal's webinars.

Click here to read Rightmove launches month of legislation webinars for agents.



Letting agents have eight weeks to comply with new Northern scheme

The Merseyside scheme requires agents and landlords to submit their applications for a licence by August 31st and so far 600 have been received.

Click here to read Letting agents have eight weeks to comply with new Northern scheme.



Naive first time buyers put plans on hold after discovering 'hidden costs'

New research reveals one in seven first time buyers suspend intention to buy due to raft of 'unexpected' fees and Stamp Duty.

Click here to read Naive first time buyers put plans on hold after discovering 'hidden costs'.



BLOG: Business support, software and services – how to get 'bang for your buck'

When times are hard, it’s critical to analyse your investments – from software tools to additional services or business support, says Brian Farrell.

Click here to read BLOG: Business support, software and services – how to get 'bang for your buck'.



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Naive first time buyers put plans on hold after discovering 'hidden costs'

 



Big agency launches ‘super branch’ in historic Midlands city

The Grade II listed Coventry building dates back to the early 19th Century and was once the home of the organist at the city's Cathedral. 

Click here to read Big agency launches ‘super branch’ in historic Midlands city.



Estate agency chief warns Help to Buy is 'ticking timebomb'

Trade body boss Nathan Emerson is warning the after-effects of the Help to Buy scheme could create a dangerous housing bubble. 

Click here to read Estate agency chief warns Help to Buy is 'ticking timebomb'.



Property sales fall-throughs blighting quarter of deals

Data from Quick Move Now shows 27% of sales fell through in the third quarter of this year.

Click here to read Property sales fall-throughs blighting quarter of deals.



Interest rates of 6% and 7% will be the new normal

Mortgage Advice Bureau boss Peter Brodnicki says that stubborn inflation continues to see the Bank of England pushing rates up.

Click here to read Interest rates of 6% and 7% will be the new normal.



In this month's issue:
 
• COVER STORY: How a branch makeover can win instructions.
 
• FEATURE: Rent guarantee insurance and how it can save your landlords.
 
• LEGAL: Direct marketing and how it can earn you a £500,000 fine.
 
• COMMENT: How to manage the credit squeeze and defaulting tenants.
 
• MARKETING: Don't be afraid of Artificial Intelligence – it could boost your business – starting tomorrow!
 
• REDRESS: Too much pressure. The Property Ombudsman adjudicates on a complaint against an over-zealous agent.
 
•INTERVIEW: The agent who got into bed with billionaire, Warren Buffett.

Click here to read .



Leading London estate agency predicts 20% drop in property sales

Multi-branch KFH reveals forecast in its latest trading figures released online via Companies House

Click here to read Leading London estate agency predicts 20% drop in property sales.



Dinner invite to estate agency seniors issued by leading industry duo

Baldock brothers are organising their latest central London dinner gathering for all comers who are owners or directors of agencies.

Click here to read Dinner invite to estate agency seniors issued by leading industry duo.



HMRC warns property industry over new tax avoidance scheme

Private landlords can end up paying more tax, as well as interest, fines and fees, after adopting a 'hybrid business model', HMRC says.

Click here to read HMRC warns property industry over new tax avoidance scheme.



Dexters acquires major London estate agency

The London firm has purchased LiFE Residential, including its offices in Asia, where many of its landlords are based.

Click here to read Dexters acquires major London estate agency.



Propertymark to probe leading lettings firm after BBC investigation

Student Haus has suspended a member of staff after being accused of letting a sub-standard property to students and faking a signature.

Click here to read Propertymark to probe leading lettings firm after BBC investigation.



The Negotiator Magazine October edition is live and waiting for you – 54 pages of news, features, interviews, opinion and advice. Just click and flip!

• House prices latest – expert analysis

 • Interview: Yasmin Ulhaq, Glenfield Property Management – super-prime practitioner

 • FEATURE – Photography and floor plans, latest innovations

•  The Negotiator Awards & Conference – gearing up for the best agent event of the year!
• FEATURE – Inventories and technology, a marriage made in heaven

 • Interview – Eric Von Bahr of Plentific, a tech-enabled property management model of the future

• Who Goes Where – roundup of the industry's movers and shakers

• Community Matters – charitable efforts by agents around the country

 PLUS: Adam Walker column, The Ombudsman Files, Digital marketing advice and much more. 


Click here to read The Negotiator Magazine October edition is live and waiting for you – 54 pages of news, features, interviews, opinion and advice. Just click and flip!.



FEATURE: Photography and enhanced listings

Lisa Isaacs takes a snapshot of the technical advances in agency photography and floorplanning – could your listings look better?

Click here to read FEATURE: Photography and enhanced listings.



RUBBISH! Agents reject £50,000 house price fall forecast

Lyndon Le Boutillier from Hearnes and two other agency directors say a prediction by Confused.com of huge drops in house prices by the end of 2024 are not true.

Click here to read RUBBISH! Agents reject £50,000 house price fall forecast.



Labour WILL regulate estate agents says Shadow Minister

Propertymark welcomes Matthew Pennycook's commitment to introduce the RoPA regulations if Labour wins the General Election.

Click here to read Labour WILL regulate estate agents says Shadow Minister.




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