House prices dip unexpectedly as interest rates continue to dampen demand August 30, 2024 House prices dipped unexpectedly for the first time since April this month, but a closely watched survey today suggests that the outlook for the property market is likely to strengthen as interest rates are reined in. In its closely watched house price index today, mortgage lender Nationwide said British house prices slipped by 0.2 per [...]
Build, Baby, Build: The Apprenticeship Levy is a tax by another name August 23, 2024 SME house builders need to attract young talent more than ever, but the inflexible Apprenticeship Levy is standing in the way, says Rowland Thomas The new Labour Government’s pro-development approach and commitment to getting Britain back building has been largely welcomed by the housebuilding industry. However, even if the Government delivers on its promise to [...]
Social rent increases may not ‘move dial’ on housebuilding, Rachel Reeves warned August 21, 2024 Rachel Reeves’ plans to increase social rent may not “move the dial in a material way” on council housebuilding, a corporate finance firm is warning. The Chancellor will reportedly up social rent by bringing in a decade-long formula to raise housing costs in England boosted by the CPI inflation measure – currently 2.2 per cent [...]
There’s a hidden carbon cost to the government’s housing targets August 15, 2024 But an innovative use of cement could help reduce the construction sector’s emissions, writes Dalraj Nijjar
UK’s largest pension fund agrees £405m homes deal with Blackstone August 13, 2024 The UK’s largest pension fund has acquired 3,000 homes from Blackstone for more than £400m. The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has snapped up the portfolio of shared ownership homes from affordable housing company, Sage. Sage is majority-owned by Blackstone alongside real estate investor Regis and was formed in 2017. The £405m deal is the first [...]
Marshalls: Revenue at building supplier drops but group ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the future August 12, 2024 Housing industry supplier Marshalls has reported a mixed set of results for the first half of the year due to what management called “weak end markets.” However, despite weakness in the construction market over the past year, the company said it was “cautiously optimistic” about the future. Marshalls announced revenue of £306.7m in the half-year [...]
Danger! Labour want all our new homes to be ugly August 9, 2024 Labour thinks it's 'ridiculous' to consider beauty when building new homes and towns. That's a travesty, says James Price
Is the real Airbnb hell about to begin? August 8, 2024 A site called airbnbhell.com, a rabbit hole of “uncensored” stories of host and guest experiences, reveals detailed anecdotes ranging from pet problems and parties, to discrimination and fraud. It is no longer an active site but the holiday home rental app had a hell of its own on Wednesday when shares plunged 16 per cent [...]
Ibstock profit slashed as ‘exceptionally wet weather’ hits construction industry August 7, 2024 Sales and profit at building supplies company Ibstock has continued to fall as “exceptionally wet weather” badly affected the construction industry. The London-listed firm, which is headquartered in Leicestershire, saw its revenue drop 20 per cent to £178m in the first six months of 2024, down from £223m last year. Ibstock said this decrease was [...]
‘Too late for rent caps’: East London rents jump 50 per cent since 2019 August 5, 2024 Rental costs in London have skyrocketed over the past five years, and new data has shown that rental growth in the city’s historically-affordable east has risen the fastest. Prices have risen by around 50 per cent in Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and Haggerston to pass an average of £1,000 per month, according to data from Spareroom. [...]