Your weekend roundup of top news, views and features

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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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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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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Evidence grows of weaker homebuyer demand

Adam Day of EXP UK says: "There's an element of buyers adopting a wait-and-see approach ahead of the Autumn Budget."

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Residential conveyancers: 'We're working three years ahead of reforms'

Why wait for buying and selling reforms to become law? Residential conveyancers are already on a public education and implementation mission, says Lisa Isaacs.

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Estate agent CRM software platforms embrace the AI revolution

CRMs are the absolute bedrock of your agency. Now AI is unlocking your dormant data with promising results, discovers Lisa Isaacs.

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The Ombudsman Files – Goodwill property repair turns into grievance

The Property Ombudsman highlights the importance of contractor oversight, communication and complaint handling when a property repair goes wrong.

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Housing market support won’t work without Stamp Duty reform

More tax support is needed to help developers supply homes for people to buy, says Menzies’ Stephen Hemmings.

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Four 10% improvements could boost agency fee income by 46%

The Moveli calculator highlights how small gains in property values, fees and conversion rates could increase agency income.

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HOUSE MARKET ANALYSIS: Plenty of choice but home buyers cautious

A 12-year high in available properties is increasing competition between sellers, says Kate Faulkner, but home buyers are holding back.

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Boost for landlords as buy-to-let yields hit new high

Paragon’s Louisa Sedgwick says landlords are benefiting in areas where house prices are lower and rental demand remains high.

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Slowdown in September auction sales figures

EIG figures show continued annual growth in residential auction sales, although rising supply has put pressure on September success rates.

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HMO tenants seeking more housemate safety

New research calls for landlords to be more transparent about who HMO tenants will be sharing properties with.

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Your First Home could slow the market before launch, major builder warns

Buyers may delay purchasing decisions in the months ahead of the launch of the Your First Home Scheme, a housebuilder warns.

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Younger generations still see home ownership as ‘essential’

There is still a desire to get on the property ladder among young people despite barriers, says LRG’s Tim Foreman.

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Asking rents hit record high as supply slips

Rightmove data shows average asking rents are above £1,400 outside London and are approaching £3,000 in the Capital, says Colleen Babcock.

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