Welcome to our weekly update giving you the key stories, breaking news and topical analysis from the past week up to today, 27 July 2018.
This week saw Manchester maintaining its position as a top performer in the UK housing market, while elsewhere in the sector down-valuations are causing a stir. Growing numbers of landlords are now having to obtain licences to operate but we look at whether that’s good for the industry, as buy-to-let remains a vital part of the sector in the UK. Read on for seven top stories you might have missed this week…
1. Leaseholders could see cost of extending or buying freehold slashed
Buying a freehold or extending a lease can cost homeowners tens of thousands of pounds, so the latest housing reform proposals are likely to be welcomed by many. To read the full story click here.
2. Landlord licensing: protecting tenants or a council cash cow?
As a fifth of all councils in the UK now operate some form of landlord licensing scheme, many are questioning whether the rules are really there for the right reasons. To read the full story click here.
3. How to save thousands when selling your property through agents
Fees charged by estate agents for selling a home can vary massively, but new research suggests that many homeowners could have paid less… To read the full story click here.
4. Manchester property has smallest asking price to selling price gap
For buyers and investors considering their next property purchase location, new figures show that the strongest performing markets can still be found in the north-west and the Midlands. To read the full story click here.
5. What are down-valuations and why are they on the rise?
This week it emerged that the number of mortgage lenders valuing homes at less than the agreed sale price has soared, prompting much speculation as to what this could mean for the industry. To read the full story click here.
6. Buy-to-let mortgage deals key to sustaining private rented sector
Buy-to-let mortgages represent nearly 13% of new UK mortgage lending and are vital in supporting housing supply in the private rented sector. To read the full story click here.
7. Huge numbers of homes withdrawn from market across UK last year
Estate agents lost out on an estimated £4bn last year after almost half of all properties taken off the market were withdrawn by the seller rather than sold. To read the full story click here.
