A striking shift is emerging in the UK housing market: first-time buyers are moving away from the countryside and back into Britain’s regional cities. After years of pandemic-fuelled demand for rural and coastal homes, new figures show that younger buyers are once again drawn to the affordability, jobs and
For decades, the UK’s simple one-word Ofsted rating system has done more than grade schools — it has shaped entire neighbourhoods, fuelled house price hotspots, and driven families to pay a premium to live within certain catchment areas. From “Outstanding” to “Inadequate,” these single grades have become an unofficial currency
Few challenges loom larger over the UK’s economic and social future than the housing crisis. For decades, politicians have promised bold new housebuilding targets, yet delivery rarely matches ambition. Now, with Labour in power and its pledge to build 300,000 new homes each year, the gap between targets
The top end of the London property market — once buoyed by international capital and non-domiciled buyers — is undergoing a sharp slowdown. New figures reveal that prime London sales fell by 35.8% in May, with lettings activity also dropping significantly. The decline coincides with a tightening political narrative around inheritance
In a significant move for the UK mortgage market, Santander has relaxed its mortgage affordability criteria, enabling many buyers to borrow tens of thousands more than just a month ago. The changes — which include a cut to stress test rates and revised income thresholds — are expected to provide a substantial
A wave of financial pressure is sweeping across the UK’s coastal housing market as stamp duty surcharges and second-home tax policies begin to bite. Areas that experienced record demand during the pandemic — such as Cornwall, the Isle of Wight, and parts of North Wales — are now seeing price falls
In May 2025, private rental growth in the UK slowed to 7.0%, down from 7.4% in April, marking the fifth consecutive month of deceleration. The average monthly private rent now stands at £1,339, while the increase in new-let rents dropped to a mere 2.8%, the lowest
A new report has revealed a powerful shift in renter behaviour across the UK: tenants are now actively seeking out – and paying more for – eco-friendly properties. According to a recent survey commissioned by Handelsbanken, 92% of UK landlords report that tenants are willing to pay a premium for greener homes,
In a bold move aimed at transforming the UK’s housing market, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed a sweeping £39 billion plan to boost affordable housing and reset how developments are financed. Central to the proposal is the creation of a national ‘housing bank’, with the reclassification
The UK government has officially announced the launch of an AI-powered planning tool, designed to accelerate housing development across the country by removing bureaucratic delays from the planning system. Known as “Extract”, the tool is part of a broader effort to streamline the housing delivery pipeline and help achieve the
Patron Capital, the London-based private equity real estate firm, has taken a major leap in its growth strategy with a landmark €600 million commitment from Mitsubishi Estate. The Japanese property giant, through its global arm Mitsubishi Estate Global Partners (MEGP), has acquired a majority stake in Patron, aiming to strengthen