Your weekend roundup of top news, views and features

Proposed mortgage reforms to widen pool of buyers

The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed the rule changes so that lenders can help borrowers who have previously struggled to get a mortgage.

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Ground rent cap to be introduced a year early

The Government previously indicated that the £250 annual cap on ground rents would be introduced by late 2028.

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New interest-free loan scheme for first-time buyers set up

Scottish Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says the First Homes Fund will offer first-time buyers £10,000 towards a deposit.

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Seaside resorts suffer price drop up to nearly 40%

Some coastal locations have seen a big fall in prices in the past year, new figures from Yopa reveal.

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First-time buyer hotspots see asking prices up 18%

The first-time buyer hotpots have been revealed by Rightmove, with the portal's Colleen Babcock saying affordability is key.

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Landlord income up 23% but arrears are significant

Managing risk and the right portfolio structures are vital in keeping rental properties profitable, says LegalforLandlords’ Sim Sekhon.

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Conveyancers told to target estate agents

Time should be invested in building and maintaining strong relationships with local agents, says Lyons Bowe Solicitors' Paul Lyons.

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Complaints against letting agents jump 47%

Growing compliance and administrative demands are reducing the time agents can spend on customer service, warns Propoly's Sim Sekhon.

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CITY PRICES ANALYSIS: Inner and outer London property joins North-South divide

Kate Faulkner provides her latest house price update by town and city, highlighting the emerging divide between inner and outer London property.

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Property company insolvencies hit ten-year high

More than 760 real estate businesses have become insolvent this year as economic uncertainty hits the property market.

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BLOG: Is air conditioning the new eco-dogma or the latest front in Britain’s class war?

Trevor Abrahmsohn of Glentree International says there is a growing campaign to discourage, restrict, or ban air conditioning in new residential developments.

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Northern MPs push Burnham to introduce Land Value Tax

Taxing land rather than properties could have a major impact on homes in high-value areas such as London and the South East.

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The Ombudsman Files - Failure to disclose non-standard construction leads to compensation

The Property Ombudsman, Lesley Horton adjudicates on a case where a buyer sought to claim back his survey fee from an agent who hadn't told the whole story.

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