Thamesmead is one of the biggest developments in London, seeing over £1 billion invested to create new homes, infrastructure and amenities. All of the work is transforming the area and making it into a far more appealing destination for residents. Bexley Council recently revealed plans that will provide an additional boost. These come in the form of a landmark institute that would become a world leading campus for construction, design, and engineering. Continue reading →

Barking and Dagenham is proving to be a popular area for investors because of the value on offer and the continued growth potential for house prices. A news story in October showed how important it is for landlords to be careful with their investments, especially when it comes to developing properties. If they fail to adhere to planning requirements or break the law, the penalties can be huge. Continue reading →

Recent data released by HouseSimple reveals how quickly residential properties in major UK areas change hands. The fastest moving market is Belfast with just 1.9% of homes remaining on the market for 6 months or more. This is much faster than the 12.5% average across the 50 locations. The slowest moving area was Sunderland with a huge 28.5%. Continue reading →

National Empty Homes Week was held from October 16th to the 22nd. The campaign was designed to give local authorities across the UK the chance to launch events that will help to tackle the problem with empty properties. Continue reading →

Earlier in October Newham Council released the results of a cutting edge scheme they had launched to help improve the standards achieved by lettings agents in the Borough. Over a two year period the local authority did an audit of each agent. This took into account their history, the fees they charge, and issues such as failing to refund deposits at the end of a tenancy. The end result is a rating system that shows which letting agents are safe to use and those to be wary of. Continue reading →

More families could be drawn to Merton after the release of the newest Progress 8 scores by the Department for Education. The table charts the performance of the 172 councils in England, determining how they score in terms of preparing secondary school students for their GCSEs. Merton came out top, reflecting the quality of education on offer in the area. Continue reading →

The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is home to a number of beautiful properties and some that stand out for quite astonishing reasons. One of these is involved in a planning battle that has been ongoing for over five years. Although a recent decision at the Court of Appeal seemed to have provided a solution; new plans have escalated the situation again. Continue reading →

Cycling continues to be a very popular option for commuters in London. It offers a number of benefits including being great exercise, sustainable and good for the environment, lower commuting costs, and the chance to escape from busy public transport. The Government is supporting cyclists by looking in to creating even more routes such as cycle superhighways. Continue reading →

Havering Council recently finalised its move to introduce a licensing scheme for HMOs across 12 wards in the Borough. A licence will last for 5 years and costs £900 unless landlords sign up before February 2018 and take advantage of the early discount. Continue reading →

Data from the latest HouseSimple property supply index shows that housing supplies in the UK saw the biggest monthly rise for two years in September 2017. On a nationwide basis listings increased by 20.2%. In London they were up by an impressive 44.4%. There were double digit rises in every Borough but the high figure is driven by huge growth in some key areas. Kensington and Chelsea had the highest figures at 108.5%. Hammersmith and Fulham was second at 72.5%. Continue reading →