Your weekend roundup of top news, views and features

Is Andy Burnham the new messiah – or just Starmer with better eyebrows?

Glentree Founder Trevor Abrahmsohn takes a look at what Andy Burnham will change if he becomes the new Prime Minister.

Click here to read Is Andy Burnham the new messiah – or just Starmer with better eyebrows?.

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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More will pay Mansion Tax under Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham is understood to be planning to lower the Mansion Tax threshold to £1.5million, if he becomes Prime Minister.

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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.

Click here to read Landlord income up 23% but arrears are significant.

Doer-uppers are undesirable as buyers seek certainty

High refurbishment costs mean buyers are falling out of love with renovation projects, says LRG's Mark Manning.

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Simplify Right to Rent guidance, urges Propertymark

Agents need clearer guidance and practical tools to help them comply with Right to Rent rules.

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Burnham explores major overhaul of property taxes

Replacing Council Tax and Stamp Duty would put fairness back into property taxation, claims tax reform group

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Home sellers expect agents to respond in 24 hours

Estate agents are under pressure to answer queries from home sellers in less than a day, new research highlights.

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ANALYSIS: Home sales fell across every region in June

The USA-Iran war has started to impact property transactions, writes Kate Faulkner, but this is compared to a particularly strong June in 2025.

Click here to read ANALYSIS: Home sales fell across every region in June.

BLOG: A difficult summer for student lettings

Business sales broker Adam Walker questions whether the summer voids in student lettings will lead to an exodus of landlords.

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ENTRY GUIDANCE – The good, the bad and the award-worthy

From impressive growth stats to unsupported claims and missing evidence, here’s how the judges sort the wheat from the chaff at The Negotiator Awards.

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Landlords face £7k fine amid heatwave hazards

A rental property can be considered unsafe if overheating creates a health risk, landlords are warned.

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Latest licensing costs for landlords revealed

The National Residential Landlords Association has published the latest licensing costs, ranging from £750 to more than £2,100.

Click here to read Latest licensing costs for landlords revealed .

Property buyer demand dips with offers down

Adam Day, of EXP, says there is a divide with areas in the North seeing stronger demand than southern markets.

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Lenders demand urgent help for first-time buyers

Around 3.5 million households are locked out of homeownership and need a helping hand to get onto the housing ladder, says the IMLA.

Click here to read Lenders demand urgent help for first-time buyers.