The Negotiator - The essential site for residential agents

Material info warning | HMRC crackdown | Sale times slow

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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%
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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

BLOG: Open Banking WILL help 'generation rent' onto housing ladder

Jon Hart of Moneyhub Enterprise, says Open Banking can help renters get on the housing ladder by allowing them to share data with lenders to give real-time details of their spending.

Click here to read BLOG: Open Banking WILL help 'generation rent' onto housing ladder
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PayProp UK boss Neil Cobbold says that the government’s flagship legislation for the private rented sector remains in limbo.

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Research from Legal & General reveals the number of applicants reliant on gifted deposits was up by 10% in November.

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Properties now taking seven months to sell, warns Rightmove

Despite a surge in asking prices driven by pent-up demand and a strong Spring season, selling still takes seven months between listing and completion.

Click here to read Properties now taking seven months to sell, warns Rightmove
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BLOG: Is Facebook a more compelling platform than the big portals?

Starberry’s Ben Sellers says harnessing Facebook's user base for estate agency marketing could transform digital innovation in the sector.

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Vendors still making big profits from property sales, says Zoopla

Homeowners who sold their property in 2023 made an average gain of £74,000, with Londoners seeing the largest capital gains at £137,000, according to the portal's senior researcher.

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WARNING: Landowners will exploit Labour's green belt building plans

Roger Mortlock of the CPRE says some owners will allow their land to become run-down so it can be used for new homes.

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Hamptons senior quits after 18 years to join hybrid estate agency

Surrey senior and long-time Hamptons mover and shaker Philip Knight has joined the self-employed broker business, Moveli. 

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Pattinson Estate Agency is celebrating raising £50,000 for charities via its partnership with a local community foundation fund.

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Landlords 'increasingly keen' to bring rents up to market averages

90% of tenants renewing an existing contract saw rents increase while 60% of landlords achieved a higher rent when a new tenant moved in.

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66% uptake of agent KPI tracker

Street.co.uk has confirmed that over two-thirds of their agent user base has already implemented the new KPI Dashboard.

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MORTGAGES: Lenders cut rates as hopes rise of BoE reduction

Expectation that the Bank of England will cut the base interest rate next month prompts lenders including HSBC to reduce mortgage costs.

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First-time buyers paying 191% more than parents did in 1990s

Conveyancing boss says average earnings-to-house-price ratio has more than doubled from 4.0 to 8.1 adding more pressure than ever on first-time buyers.

Click here to read First-time buyers paying 191% more than parents did in 1990s.

Entries open for property industry fundraising awards

Agents Giving are now taking entries and nominations for their property industry Fundraising Champions of the Year Awards. 

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Rightmove rolls out material info fields for agents – but with a warning

Portal says that those agents who do not fill in the new fields face fines – and even prison sentences.

Click here to read Rightmove rolls out material info fields for agents – but with a warning
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Holiday lets 'free-for-all' over as HMRC launches crackdown

Officials began almost 2,000 investigations into income earned by holiday homeowners during the last year.

Click here to read Holiday lets 'free-for-all' over as HMRC launches crackdown.