estate agents

Property Auctions

Property auctions are no longer just for "doer-uppers"

New instructions for auction catalogues have risen steadily in recent months, reflecting a clear shift in seller behaviour. In a market where confidence can fluctuate, more vendors are prioritising certainty and a defined timeline over open-ended negotiations.

There is still a perception that auction properties are unmortgageable or in need of major renovation, perhaps due to issues...

Estate Agents

DIY disruptors divide the market: One in three agents see platforms like OpenRent as a threat

Research from Alto , the UK's most popular and fastest growing estate and lettings CRM, reveals a growing split within the UK agency market over the competitive threat posed by DIY property platforms such as OpenRent and For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) services.

According to the research, more than a third of agents [34%] say DIY property platforms represent a competitive threat this year...

Unclaimed estates

Research reveals the number of unclaimed estates in the UK and how you can avoid your estate being unclaimed.

Each year, numerous estates remain unclaimed, with potential heirs either unaware or unable to stake their claims. As of February 2026, there are over 5,000 unclaimed estates across the UK. If we consider that the average cost of a property in the UK is £270,259 , and there are 5,472 such properties, the total estimated value of these unclaimed estates amounts to approximately £1,478,857,248...

Chinese Embassy

Tower Hamlets sees sharp rise in Chinese homeownership, as 'mega embassy' approved

The latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves , has revealed that the London Borough of Tower Hamlets has seen by far the largest increase in the number of homes owned by Chinese foreign nationals since 2020, as the UK Government today approved plans for China's controversial new London 'mega embassy' at Royal Mint Court.

Benham and Reeves analysed the...

Pets in rented accommodation

Landlords still reluctant to go pet-friendly as Renters' Rights Act looms

New analysis from Inventory Base , a leading provider of inspection and compliance technology, reveals that despite the incoming Renters' Rights Act introducing significant changes around the rights tenants have to keep a pet in their home, there has still only been a marginal increase in the number of pet-friendly rental listings.

Inventory Base's analysis of current rental listings...

Houses by the sea

City house prices soar as coastal locations suffer decline

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that house prices in UK cities are significantly outperforming both coastal and countryside locations, rising by an average of 3.4% over the past year, well ahead of the wider UK market which has seen growth of 2.5%. And while countryside homes have also seen a price increase, the nation's massively popular seaside hotspots have been stunned...

Photographs for house sales

Homes with fewer listing photos priced £80,000 lower on average

The latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed a stark disparity in asking prices depending on how extensively a property is marketed, with homes listed using four photos or fewer priced almost £80,000 lower on average than those benefiting from five or more images.

Benham and Reeves analysed current for-sale listings across England,...

Refurbish Homes

£19.9bn of refurbishment investment required to bring England's private rented homes up to EPC C by 2030

Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital , believes that despite the Government extending the deadline for all private rental stock to meet an EPC C rating from 2028 to 2030 , refurbishment finance will remain key in helping landlords meet this deadline, with an estimated £19.9bn needed to ensure all privately rented homes in England are up to standard in four years time.

Octane...

Apprentice Builders

Development sector optimistic yet constrained by market pressures and talent gaps

New research reveals that the UK development industry is entering 2026 with cautious optimism but is still held back by deep-rooted staffing challenges that are slowing delivery and squeezing project viability. The Development Index – produced by real estate and construction hiring specialist, Cobalt Recruitment – captures the current challenges, along with the opportunities and pressures...

International buyers

203,000 homes across England and Wales owned by international homeowners, with London accounting for 34%

The latest market analysis by Enness Global has revealed that almost 203,000 homes across England and Wales are owned by international homeowners, with London home to the highest proportion at 34%, while Hong Kong, Singapore, the USA, the UAE and China are the most prevalent overseas nationalities.

The figures from Enness Global* reveal the number of homes across England and Wales...

Pages