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The latest research by eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents and estate agency businesses, has revealed that as of next April first-time buyers will have considerably less choice when it comes to a stamp duty free property purchase, as the current Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) threshold at which no tax is owed reverts back to £300,000 from the current threshold of £425,000 - a move that will see SDLT free stock levels fall by 20% of over 90,000 properties. As of 1st April 2025, the SDLT threshold u

The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 transformed the office worker landscape, for better or worse, depending on who you ask. At JFM, we stand firmly in favour of the hybrid model. Advocating for more remote work has become significantly easier recently, with productivity being a key factor:   77% of workers say they are more productive when working remotely (Source: Forbes, 2022) 85% of businesses confirm that hybrid working has improved productivity (Source: Owl Labs, 2023)   While retention statistics may

Birchgrove, the UK’s leading provider of rented retirement homes, has today opened the doors to its fourth development, its first to open in the Greater London area. The development, Ayrton House in Mill Hill, North London, contains a mixture of 60 self-contained, one-, two- and three-bed apartments, all purpose built on the site of a historic former medical research institute. Communal features of the development include a restaurant, club room, licensed bar and wellness suite, as well as landscaped gard

Disruptor company Cohab, a new entrant to the residential lettings and management market which charges an all-in lettings and management fee of just 5% (excluding VAT) has formed a business alliance with LOFT, provider of a full-service furnishing solution and fellow tech innovator. LOFT’s declared purpose is to “enhance the residential experience, minimise our environmental footprint and optimise our social impact. We specialise in furnishing homes with ethically sourced products, designed to enhance the

Recent research indicates that the physical damage caused by Japanese knotweed is no greater than that of other disruptive plants such as Bamboo and Buddleia and trees. However, as experts on the ground we know how serious knotweed can be when it comes to protecting the integrity of property or building structures - including underground infrastructure. Take a look at some of the examples shown here.  Forcing boundary structures The forceful nature of Japanese knotweed means its vigorous growth (if left u

Regional businesses came together for an night of charitable giving and merriment at the Beresfords annual property dinner last month, to raise funds for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT). Over 180 attendees enjoyed the prestigious event at Down Hall Hotel & Spa in Bishops Stortford, hosted by property group, Beresfords. A total of £16,000 was raised for the EHAAT, an incredible local charity of which Beresfords has supported for over ten years. Essex and Herts Air Ambulance provide a Helicopter Emerg

In the always-evolving landscape of property management, ensuring compliance with changing regulations is essential. MVN Block Management stands at the forefront of this endeavour, particularly with their innovative use of BlockPro, a sophisticated compliance tracking platform. BlockPro's traffic light system has become an integral tool for MVN, especially in managing high-rise buildings. This system not only simplifies the monitoring of compliance status but also provides peace of mind to the Principal A

Guy Sackett to lead Irwin Mitchell’s National Real Estate Team and Garrath Reayer to lead Residential Property National law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed partner Guy Sackett as its new Head of Real Estate. Guy is replacing Adrian Barlow, who is retiring from the partnership.  In addition, Garrath Reayer has been appointed new Head of Residential Property, following the retirement of Jeremy Raj earlier this year.  Irwin Mitchell’s Real Estate and Residential Property Teams together number 25 partners a

This year, Managing Estates Ltd, a name synonymous with exceptional property management, celebrates a major milestone—its 10th anniversary. A company that started with humble beginnings, Managing Estates has become a pillar of quality and trust in the property management industry, recognised for its commitment to high standards and outstanding customer service. Now, as the firm reaches a decade of successful service, it is poised to take another monumental step: moving into a new, larger office space in M

Resident hosting has matured to the point that not offering options for tenants around length of stay now poses a risk to Build to Rent (BTR) long-term rental portfolios. More even than the 10-20% incremental net yields that resident hosting can deliver, this risk has become a major driver for change. With this in mind, the Association for Rental Living (ARL), together with our partner and ARL member, TrustedStays, has published two new in-depth explorations of resident hosting:   Resident Hosting: The so

London law firm Bishop & Sewell LLP has won the accolade of ‘Large Business of the Year’ at the Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Business Awards 2024.    The prestigious awards celebrate the vibrant and diverse range of businesses in Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster and from across wider London.   At the awards ceremony, which took place on Thursday 17 October at Porchester Hall, London, Bishop & Sewell beat off stiff competition from businesses including Harrods, Peter Jones and The Lansdowne Club

Landlords and tenants Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director of Leaders Romans Group, hoped that even if there is a rise in Capital Gains Tax, landlords will see that "it may now be more profitable to continue letting, rather than exit the market". She also hopes that "if landlords are expected to upgrade older properties to meet EPC standards by 2030, then support measures will be introduced now to make these upgrades feasible. Without assistance, many landlords will face prohibitive cost