Latest News

A new study by the property portal Zoopla reveals how big a say our children have in when and where we move house. The website says that while the grown-ups still have the final say (and of course pay for the process) … 40% of Gen Z parents aged about 20-30 give their children a […]

The Bank of England has dropped its base rate for the fifth time in 12 months. The rate is the measurement on which mortgage lenders judge their interest rates to borrowers. The latest decision shows that: base rate is down to 4% following this 0.25% drop; base rate has now fallen five times since August […]

A new survey gets to the bottom of how sellers actually decide which agent should sell their home – and why. Property website Zoopla asked 1,000 owners with homes on the market, for details about how they prepared to sell. The figures show: agents with a local office and local knowledge were the most popular; […]

The country’s largest property website, Rightmove, says the housing market is stable as the midway point of summer arrives. The website carries around 95% of all homes listed for sale so has a unique insight to the market. It says: the number of sales agreed so far in 2025 is 5% higher than at this […]

It’s now almost certain that the Renters Rights Bill – the biggest set of changes in the private rental sector in half a century – will become law when MPs return to the House of Commons in September. Measures in the Bill include: abolishing so-called ‘no fault’ evictions of tenants; creating an Ombudsman service to […]

The average tenancy in England and Wales now lasts 1,085 days, or around three years, according to an analysis by the Deposit Protection Service. This has risen significantly in recent years and is considered good news for tenants and landlords as it means:   More reliable income for landlords without ‘voids’ – gaps between tenants; […]

More first-time buyers will be able to apply for a mortgage as the government begins to relax lending rules. The aim is to turn more younger people into owner occupiers by making it easier to borrow. The changes will mean: Single people can apply for mortgages with a £30,000 income, instead of £35,000; Couples can […]

There continues to be a near-record number of different mortgage options available to first time buyers, existing owners moving home, and those wishing to remortgage. Independent housing market service Moneyfacts says there are currently:   No fewer than 6,908 different mortgage products on the market;   This is well over 300 more than a year […]

We’re enjoying a hot, hot summer but property experts are already thinking about the housing market for the rest of this year – and it’s looking robust. The Halifax building society, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, forecasts: two more interest rate cuts by December; “modest price growth” over the coming six months; and a relaxation of […]

A new survey shows that British adults move home on average six times during their lifetimes. The study looked at 2,000 families and has been carried out by the website Compare My Move. It shows that: 61% of people move home two to six times during their lives (mostly six); 15% move seven to nine […]

One important figure for the housing market concerns mortgage lending to buyers. A rise or fall in lending now, shows how the market will be in some months’ time once those buyers havechosen homes to move to. So the good news is… there’s been an increase, with 63,000 loans to buyers across the UK in […]

Analysts say they expect the Bank of England to cut interest rates again when its key committee meets in early August. In the past year there have been four cuts, although in June the Bank kept rates unchanged. Analysts say: many mortgage lenders have cut rates anyway, to win business; two more rate cuts are […]

It probably won’t come as a surprise but the south west of England is officially the UK’s top destination for over-50s looking to downsize to a location with a better lifestyle. New research from retirement company Regency Living shows that: across England and Wales some 38% of people are aged 50 or over; in the […]

The heavily trailed Spending Review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves has put investment in housing at the centre of its agenda. So in addition to predicted spending increases on the NHS, defence, education and transport, there will also be… £39 billion spent on new social homes over the next decade; More power for councils and housing […]

Developers face hefty fines if they delay the construction of new estates or leave sites half-finished for years. The government is proposing to give local councils new powers which will mean developers must: supply a detailed time-frame of how long a scheme will take to build; provide an annual progress report on whether a scheme […]

Areas that are considered rural or semi-rural – like Topsham and much of East Devon – have seen house prices rise more than nearby locations that are regarded as urban, such as Exeter. That’s the finding of the Nationwide building society’s new research. It shows:   Completely rural areas have seen house price rises of […]

The number of house sales so far in 2025 is around 5% above the level recorded at the same time last year. The figure comes from Rightmove, the country’s biggest property website, which also says housing affordability has improved because: average earnings are up 5% in the past year with house prices up only 1.2%; […]

Two mortgage lenders have announced 100% mortgages to allow younger and first time buyers to purchase a home without a deposit. More lenders are expected to follow suit and the new products are aimed at those who…   Cannot save for a deposit while at the same time paying rent;   Live with parents who […]

Another house price index has pointed to a stable housing market – and these are ideal conditions for buyers and sellers alike. The Halifax says:   South west England average prices are up a modest 0.9% in the past year;   Across the UK as a whole, prices are up 3.2% annually; and   The […]

The watchdog overseeing mortgages is proposing lenders should make applying for a loan easier and faster. The Financial Conduct Authority wants:   more competition between mortgage finance firms;   to make it easier for consumers to switch between lenders; and   to make it simpler for borrowers to shorten the length of their mortgage.   […]