Demand from buyers in UK falls in first few months of 2017

Property demand across the UK has fallen since the start of the year with Wales seeing less interest than the rest of the country, the latest analysis shows.

Demand from buyers is currently 33.8%, down by 17.56% since the end of 2016. It has reached 39.4% in England, 36.18% in Scotland and 27.35% in Wales, according to the national hotspots index report from eMoov.

The index, which measures demand in 150 towns and cities, shows that the highest levels of buyer demand is 68.29% in Rugby, followed by Portsmouth at 66.7% and Bristol at 64.43%, while the lowest is in Aberdeen at 14.11%, Hartlepool at 15.43% and Middlesbrough at 19.15%.

Stoke-on-Trent at 82.25%, Stockton-On-Tees at 77.75% and Walsall at 65.09% have all seen the largest increases in buyer demand in 2017 so far.

But demand has been falling on London commuter towns and cities including Guildford down 35.84%, Watford down 35.73%, Cambridge down 29.74%, Reading down 27.17% and Brentwood down 26.93%.

‘With many of the UK’s major cities becoming too expensive for homeowners in the region and travel infrastructure improvements allowing us to live further away from work, it is no surprise that places such as Rugby and Portsmouth have grown in prominence amongst UK buyers. It isn’t just those in London that are looking outside of the larger city boundaries and opting for more affordable towns in the surrounding area,’ said eMoov chief executive officer Russell Quirk.

He pointed out that at 32.31%, buyer demand across London is down 5%. The borough of Bexley has the most demand at 56.13%, followed by Newham at 51.82% and Havering at 50.51%. The biggest decreases were in the boroughs of Greenwich which was down 60.83%, Lambeth down 57.62% and Hounslow down 52.69%.

Westminster has the lowest level of London buyer demand at 10.14%, followed by Kensington and Chelsea at 11.49% and Hammersmith and Fulham at 13.15%. Since the end of 2016 demand has fallen in all three of these boroughs by 36.64%, 28.16% and 40.24% respectively.

Across Scotland the highest levels of current buyer demand are in South Ayrshire at 67.18%, Edinburgh at 56.47% and Glasgow at 56.42% while the biggest increases in demand are in Highland with a rise of 66.59%, South Lanarkshire up 47.69 and Fife up 40.47%.

Although demand is still low in Aberdeenshire, the area has seen an increase of 21.46% since the end of 2016. While the biggest declines in buyer demand since 2016 are Moray with a fall of 22.54%, Argyle and Bute down 14.2%) and Stirling down 6.33%.

In Wales Caerphilly at 47.12%, Newport at 46.92% and Cardiff at 42.89% rank as the top three hottest areas for property demand at present. But Cardiff’s popularity amongst Welsh buyers means the capital has seen some of the lowest upward growth in buyer demand, having increased by just 4.15% so far in 2017, whilst Rhondda Cynon Taf is up 31.57% and Swansea up 28.29%, the largest increases in buyer demand this year.

The Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Denbighshire regions have the lowest demand in Wales at 15.75%, 15.54% and 13.36% respectively while the biggest falls in demand in Wales are Bridgend down 13.47%, Monmouthshire down 9.63% and Neath Port Talbot down 3.22%.

http://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/demand-buyers-uk-falls-first-months-2017/

Top tips to improve your property’s EPC rating

By Marc Da Silva

From the 1st April 2018, it will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), unless there is an applicable exemption.

But when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of their properties, a concerning 49% of landlords recently surveyed by E.ON said that they do not feel adequately informed about how to do so.

Not only does this mean they may struggle to get their property compliant with the minimum EPC rating regulations, but they also might miss out on other benefits for making a property more energy efficient.

Thankfully, Mike Feely from E.ON has provided a number of tips for landlords looking to improve their properties’ EPC ratings:

 + Don’t underestimate the importance of insulation in making a property more energy efficient. If the property was built before or around 1920, it most likely has solid walls. Solid wall insulation can be installed from either the inside or the outside. If the property was built after 1920 it’s likely to have cavity walls. These have a double external wall with a small gap between which can be filled with insulation.

+ Make a play of your energy savings standards – don’t just think of improving energy efficiency as something for meeting regulations, it’s a commercial decision too. Given most tenants are responsible for paying energy bills, some may be willing to pay more for properties that are energy efficient, so make sure you’re making the most of this as a selling point.

+ Without properly insulated windows, the property could be losing up to 10% of its heat. Double glazed windows make a big difference when it comes to lowering energy bills as well as reducing condensation and noise. Instead of double glazing you could install secondary glazing which involves fitting a pane of plastic or glass inside the existing window recess to create an insulating layer of air. Though not as effective as double glazing, secondary glazing still saves a significant amount of energy and allows you to maintain good kerb appeal by keeping original features such as sash windows.

+ EPC ratings look only at permanent improvements to the fabric of the building so think about long-term upgrades that will help to reduce heat and energy use. Simple things – sausage dog draught excluders and the like – will help keep heat in, but for the EPC you need to find permanent ways to fill the gaps to stop heat escaping through windows, doors, letterboxes and even keyholes.


+ For those looking to bring their properties completely up to date, consider renewable technologies such as solar panels with an at-home battery to store electricity for use even when the sun goes down. Be aware these will contribute to your rating only if they’re helping to heat the house, rather than providing electricity for other uses.

https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/4/top-tips-to-improve-your-propertys-epc-rating

NAEA conference 2017: Importance of Propertymark launch

By Nick Salmon (Managing Director of Eye)

fraser.hk.com

There cannot be many conferences where the delegates enter the venue as members of one organisation and leave it as members of another, but that is pretty much what happened at yesterday’s NAEA conference held at 155 Bishopsgate in London.

The sell-out event had over 500 delegates attending and the first item on the day’s agenda was the opening address by Mark Hayward, managing director of the NAEA.

He spoke of the high standing of the organisation in government circles and how it now represents some 11,600 branches across the UK.

But that high standing is not so apparent to the general public and so, after much research and consultation with branding experts, all the divisions of NFoPP will henceforth be branded with the suffix of ‘Propertymark’ which will be consumer facing and promote the use of member agents because of the professionalism and protections offered to the public by the organisations.

A major long-term promotional campaign of the Propertymark brand, with substantial funding, will commence later this year.

EYE was fortunate to be given the exclusive opportunity to break the story ahead of all other media and our Newsflash alert generated a large read count and some vociferous comments from readers during the course of the day.

It must be said that there was a marked difference in reactions from those in the conference to those outside it, and in conversation during the day many delegates told me that they welcomed the new identity as a positive. The caveat was that it must be vigorously promoted to be a great success. It will be interesting to have those conversations again in a year’s time…

NAEA President David Mackie gave a presentation that introduced the NAEA board, welcomed the introduction of Propertymark and, fittingly, paid tribute to Peter Light, a highly regarded senior member of nearly 50 years standing in the Association, who died recently and is much missed by those who knew him – and there are many.

As if to underline the good standing of the NAEA in political circles, the first main speaker of the day was Housing Minister Gavin Barwell who gave a lucid, confident and optimistic speech on what is being planned, via this week’s White Paper, to fix the ‘broken’ housing market.

He acknowledged that he does not have a magic wand and that no single thing can fix all the problems overnight, but he is confident that the issue of under-supply of housing can be sorted.

Why is he so confident?

Because he says that we have built quantity before, in the postwar period; that public opinion and attitudes to building is changing (presumably by welcoming developments in their regions?); and, rather curiously, that when he looks at France he sees that they are building in quantity. This factor was rather lost on your correspondent, given that France is five times larger than the UK, has about the same number of people as the UK, and has a vast quantity of property up for sale at any time.

A question from the floor asked the minister if he would deliver the target of building one million new homes by 2020 and Mr Barwell – again with great confidence – assured us all that he will. So that’s sorted then.

A further question led to the minister being asked if he would introduce legislation to regulate the industry – to which he wondered if it was wanted.

When moderator Sally Bundock (host of the BBC Business Live programme) asked for a show of hands of those who would favour regulation there was a near 100% agreement – so, rather to his surprise, the minister was left in no doubt that such regulation is wanted, at least by those in the room.

Gavin Barwell was followed by a speaker from the Bank of England who opened his presentation by telling us that it was being given under the ‘Chatham House Rule’. This meant that it was not to be reported and your correspondent was superfluous for about half an hour and was able to have a quick nap – though not before noting that there were lots and lots and lots of graphs with lots and lots and lots of wiggly lines and that the man from the Bank seemed to know what they all meant.

The after-coffee speaker was Mark Palmer, a branding expert with a first-class track record at Green & Blacks (where he was in part responsible for growing turnover from £4m to £40m a year) and who is now marketing director at Pret a Manger.

His clear message, illustrated with real-world examples, was that there are innovative ways to build a business – not necessarily by advertising. In fact Pret does not advertise at all yet it grows its business and market share. Highly trained and motivated staff who are empowered to enhance the customer experience are a hugely valuable asset – and they consistently deliver quality goods and service to the customer.

It was then the turn of Miles Shipside, commercial director of Rightmove, to take the stage, from where he delivered a Valentine’s Day themed ‘love story’ that melted the hearts of the audience.

His delivery of statistics and research facts about the relationship between customers and agents left not a moist eye in the room, and his expert delivery, laced with puns and innuendo (Italian for pornography…), had many reaching for their handkerchiefs – possibly to stifle their laughter. On a more serious note, Miles showed stats indicating the ‘value’ vendors place on the services agents offer.

Given £100 to spend on the services of an agent, a vendor would use just £6 on an accurate valuation; £24 on the creation sales details; £16 on having accompanied viewings; £25 on promoting the property on Rightmove (natch!); £13 on offer negotiation; and just £8 on sales progression. To my eyes it just shows how little the public understands about what is really important in effecting a successful sale.

Lunch arrived in the form of rather mysterious black-lidded boxes containing small bowls of hot food. Unfortunately these arrived in dribs and drabs from the kitchens which were located just behind the Rightmove stand and so an enormous queue soon formed – all eager to grab some free grub courtesy of Rightmove – who had nowt to do with it.

The NAEA Propertymark team soon had things back on an even keel and I am delighted to report that the vegetarian option of spicy salad together with mushrooms in a creamy sauce was utterly delicious. (I’m not veggie but Mark Palmer had been talking about the success of Pret’s veggie offering and I guess he swayed my choice). The individual apple crumbles topped with cream and a pansy flower were as tasty as they were charming.

Into the afternoon session and if anyone fancied a nap they were not getting one as behaviour specialist Jez Rose leapt up on stage and in a whirlwind of wit took the place by storm.

I have sat through many a presentation from his ilk but I must say this was something really very special and entertaining. It moved with great pace and humour and carried a big message – that whilst we all strive to deliver exceptional customer service, the true magic of service is when it is delivered unexpectedly.

I wish I had the time and space to introduce you to Dr Moodio Bitchio, Mushers, and the Slybertron, but I can only say ‘you had to be there’ – and that you probably have at least one of each somewhere in your organisation.

Time for something completely different as Dr Kristian Niemietz from the Institute of Economic Affairs and Paul Miner from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England battled it out over the question of whether building on the Green Belt is the answer to the housing crisis. You won’t be surprised that the former said ‘yes’ and the latter said ‘no’.

I particularly liked the analogy that people think of the Green Belt as like something out of Lord of the Rings (it isn’t) and that people think ‘sprawl’ is anything built after their own property was built (they do).

Grainne Gilmour, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, gave one of her, as always, excellent presentations on the state of the market, noting that they expect a 14.2% increase in prices on average across the UK by 2021.

She also gave us the startling fact that back in the 1970s local authorities built about 50% of the new housing stock each year. Today, building firms are creating about as many homes as they did in the 70s – but the local authority building has of course disappeared.

It’s a shame Gavin Barwell wasn’t around to see that particular slide.

James Dearsely rounded off the day with his take on what is happening in the world of Proptech and Mark Hayward then ended the conference with the self-confessedly cheesy line of ‘I am Mark. Propertymark. Goodnight’.

This was a first-class event for the NAEA, in a superb venue.


Given that there were double the number of delegates from last year, plus a waiting list of exhibitors wanting to take stands, we can look forward to even bigger and better things from the ‘NAEA Propertymark’ conference in 2018.

http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/naea-conference-2017-importance-of-propertymark-launch/

Rightmove extends helping hand to AgentsGiving

By Marc Shoffman

February 08, 2017

Rightmove has committed to another year of fundraising through Agents Giving.

The Telegraph

The Rightmove Grant is available to support the fundraising activities for all letting agents, estate agents, house builders and developers.

When planning a charity event, dedicated organisers can apply for the support grant of up to £1,000 through the Agents Giving website.

During the past two years it has helped agents raise more than £1.2m for over 70 charities.

Zoe Ryder, sales negotiator at Sowerbys, who has benefited from the grant, said: “Over the past six years I have been raising money for Dereham Cancer Care and Macmillan Cancer after my brother was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29.

“Sadly he passed away at 35, but he has left us a legacy, the annual Lee Parker Memorial Dance. The dance is held in our local village hall, with the Lee Vasey Band performing. To stage an event like this has a lot of upfront costs and this is where the Rightmove Grant has helped us.

“In the past Rightmove has helped us raise money by donating goods for the raffle, but when I spoke to our account manager and told him about the dance, he introduced me to the Rightmove Grant.

“It was easy to apply for, and we were given a significant amount of money towards the event. The grant helps pay for the venue and the band, meaning that more money raised can go to our charities, and this year we will be giving back to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, as well as our two charities.”

She has raised more than £12,000 over the years and is looking to raise over £5,000 this year for Dereham Cancer Care.

This money will then help pay the rent and heating costs for the centre next year, meaning that all other funding raised by the charity or other fundraisers can be spent on other services.

Peter Knight, chairman of Agents Giving, said: “We love hearing stories like Zoe’s and it is exactly why we exist – to help fundraisers raise more for their chosen charities.

“We would like to encourage the industry to take a leaf out of Zoe’s book and get involved.”

http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/rightmove-extends-helping-hand-to-agentsgiving/

Don't move... improve! Take inspiration from the most amazing new extensions in London

By Isabelle Fraser

A sun-filled extension in north London CREDIT: DAVID BUTLER

More of us are choosing to stay put and expand our homes rather than move house and cough up exorbitant fees and stamp duty.

In London, planning permissions to expand homes has increased hugely since 2012. In Kensington and Chelsea and the City of London last year, there were as many applications lodged as homes sold. A single-storey rear extension can add as much as 14pc to the value of a house, according to the consultancy Just Planning.

So perhaps it's time to take some inspiration from the winners of New London Architecture's annual competition to find the most imaginative extensions built in the capital.


A sunken bath tub in the garden

Extensions don't have to be plain old living rooms with side returns and bi-fold doors. This flat in Clapton, east London, won best overall design.

The sunken bath tub is encased by bamboo and glass
CREDIT: RADU PALICICA

Created by architecture firm Studio 304, it has a large, Japanese-style soaking tub sunk below ground level and encased in glass. The roof and windows are surrounded by bamboo slats to give the bather privacy, and it looks out onto the peaceful garden.

The sunken bath tub CREDIT: RADU PALICICA

A study hidden in the garden

In Vauxhall, south London, this study was built for £25,000 at the end of the garden. Named The Rug Room, it is where the owner makes rugs in front of a big picture window overlooking the house.

The Rug Room in Vauxhall CREDIT: DAMIAN GRIFFITHS

It was designed by Nic Howett Architects, and was awarded third place in the competition.

The peaceful study looks out on to the garden CREDIT: DAMIAN GRIFFITHS

Zinc cladding and white walls

Designed by architecture firm Kirkwood McCarthy, a dilapidated Victorian house in Muswell Hill, north London, was given an injection of light and a new lease of life.

An extension and a courtyard was added, giving the house more space and creating a sunny, open-plan living area.

The sunny-light filled living room CREDIT: DAVID BUTLER

A home filled with light

This derelict house in New Cross, south London, which was given a huge overhaul by Studio 30 Architects, has won the award for best value project.

Glass walls let the light in to the living room CREDIT:  SAM PEACHA

The area between the living room and the kitchen has a glass ceiling and large glass doors looking out to the garden, allowing light to pour in. The rooms have been carved out to create double-height gallery-sized walls for hanging art, and at the end of the garden sits a playhouse.

The exterior of the overhauled house CREDIT:  SAM PEACH

Minimal chic

This house in Marylebone has an extension designed by Patrick Lewis Architects, and came in second place. It takes inspiration from a crow’s nest, with hidden doors and windows, and was finished with blonde wood and white walls.

Inspired by a crow's nest, this minimal extension has hidden compartments and lots of light CREDIT: SIMON KENNEDY

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/uk/dont-move-improve-take-inspiration-amazing-new-extensions-london/

Need To Change Things Up? Try These Home Improvement Tips
 Home Improvement Tips – Remember, to be successful, you’ll need to know as much as you can about what your specific project will entail. You can improve the look and feel of your home by applying the ideas you’ve learned here.  Home Improvement Tips – Getting through a home improvement project is a thing that can do a lot for your family.

TIP! To save money, refinish dreary cabinets in lieu of replacing them. Paint the bases, replace fixtures and get new doors for a brand new kitchen.

Look at what you want to accomplish, this is a great tip to assist you on your journey towards home improvement. You can improve your home through personal panache.

TIP! When improving your house, take the neighborhood’s character into consideration. A Victorian-styled home amongst a row of small, cute saltbox cottages stands out, and not in a good way.

When it comes to managing your home during the summer, use all of the fans that you can. Ceiling fans are great for air circulation as well, and they also cool a room. Using fans will lower your electricity costs.

TIP! If you want a simple project that will really make a difference, think about painting your home. Freshly painted rooms feel crisp and new with very little investment of money or time.

If you are looking to reduce you energy costs, you could change your lighting system to operate on motion sensors. You can still turn the light on manually when you need to, and most models also let you fine tune the sensitivity.

TIP! Before buying “quality” supplies, see to it that you shop around for the best deals possible. If you plan to replace flooring in multiple rooms, prepare to spend a significant amount of money.

When planning your home improvements, it is important to pinpoint which room you want to start on. You may find that working on a single room is much easier to manage in terms of funds and scheduling. Do some advance planning when it comes to remodeling, and watch for sales and deals on construction and labor. Long-term planning can help you achieve great home improvement results on a modest budget.

TIP! Thinking about installing a beautiful hardwood floor? Have a professional check out the existing floors in your home first. Sometimes you may have beautiful, natural hardwood hiding underneath layers of carpet or linoleum that is just waiting to be refinished.

Tile can wear out over time. You can clean most types of flooring safely and effectively with a simple solution of vinegar and water. Just put some vinegar in a bucket of water and scrub. Your floors will look brand new after the dulling residue is removed.

TIP! Whatever your home improvement project, you need a designated space for all waste and debris that piles up as a result of your projects. It can be expensive to remove all that rubbish, so having a plan ahead of time is essential to saving you money and ensuring that your project continues as scheduled.

Focus on your entryway or porch for a bit when making improvements to your home. When someone comes to your house it will be the first thing they see, giving them an impression of what lays inside. Remove all debris and clutter and add some decorations, such as furniture, lights, or flowers. This is a great way to increase the value of your home.

TIP! Seek professional advice before you engage in your project. Many times, that opinion will save you quite a bit of money and time.

Safety first! If your windows are covered with blinds, you should always tie or snip the cords. You can avoid a disaster by a child or pet becoming tangled in them and potentially strangling. Make sure that you leave some length so that you can open and close your blinds, though not any more than you need. Give it a snip or tie it off to avoid accidents.

TIP! The sharp edges of furniture can be a hazard for younger children. Pad the corners to prevent any injuries.

Garage Door

TIP! Instead of using a table lamp, choose a floor lamp; this will free up much-needed space on your nightstand. Consider replacing any table lamps you might have with floor lamps.

Repainting your dingy old garage door can boost the curb appeal of any home. Since a garage door suffers from constant exposure to the weather and sun, the color quickly fades and the door looks dingy. Fresh paint can make your entire home seem more newer, and makes it more valuable. Try choosing a color that will compliment your home for use on your garage door.

TIP! When you are considering any major home improvements, look for “age-in-place” projects you can use in your home. Age-in-place is a design philosophy which considers the homeowner’s age over the amount of time they own the home.

It can be very rewarding to invest some time into improving your home. To get the results you want, you should get as much information as you can. Consider this article a starting place, and use the tips that have been provided here to get you off to the right start as you journey down the road to home improvement.

 TIP! Maintaining a home improvement budgets goes a long way toward maintaining or increasing the value of your home, so aim for setting money aside as a budget for handing any repairs or upgrades. A homeowner who allocates a manageable annual budget for home improvement will maintain his/her home in better condition.

http://myfirsthomeblog.com/need-to-change-things-up-try-these-home-improvement-tips/