Stolen van drives into estate agency branch as driver flees scene

Angela Rayner has admitted underpaying Stamp Duty on an £800,000 seaside flat she purchased recently, opening up speculation that she may be forced to resign. The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Housing Secretary, told The Guardian she “deeply regretted the error”, which could put her position in jeopardy. Her career look to be on…

Buy-to-let mortgage borrowing continues to grow, with fresh lending figures indicating landlords are still investing in rental property despite regulatory change and headlines around landlord exits, according to Alexander Hall’s Managing Director Richard Merrett (pictured). The brokerage firm’s latest market analysis, which is based on historic Bank of England data, shows buy-to-let lending has grown…

Snippets of industry news: UK Sotheby’s International Realty appoints Alex Isidro as MD; Lomond appoints Kate Swann as chair to the board; Kitty Halley appointed partner of Harding Green Author: Gemma Discover more from Sovereign Prime Property Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

South-facing gardens remain popular with homebuyers despite recent heatwaves, according to new research from Yopa. Homes with a south-facing outlook can still attract a 7% premium of £20,000, although most people say they have been avoiding their gardens recently. Desirability Yopa says that despite the hot weather, 82% of homeowners still prefer a south-facing garden,…

More than two million homes have gone “missing” from the rental market after the stamp duty surcharge was introduced a decade ago, it has been revealed. Research by Hamptons claimed there would be 2.2 million more homes available to rent had the surcharge not be introduced and the market had been able to continue to…

Following his acquisition of Winkworth Beckenham last year, Sean Doyle has now taken over a fourth Winkworth office in Crystal Palace, South-East London. Having owned the Winkworth Forest Hill and Winkworth New Cross office franchises for the past eight years, the latest branch covers a popular movers’ route for young professionals as they head out…