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This year marks a momentous milestone for Brock Carmichael as the Liverpool-headquartered RIBA Chartered Practice proudly celebrates 50 years’ of influencing the architectural landscape of Liverpool as well as towns and cities nationally and internationally. Since its establishment in 1974, Brock Carmichael has been involved in projects that have contributed to Liverpool’s remarkable transformation over the last five decades. From iconic Liverpool waterfront landmarks such as One Park West and the Merseys

QUESTION  I want to remortgage my apartment but have been told I need a specialist valuation on the apartment building first as the building appears to have external cladding.  Is this correct and how much do these valuations usually cost? Any advice would be much appreciated.  ANSWER Mortgage companies often request an EWS1 form before offering to lend on a property within a block of apartments where there is external cladding. An EWS1 form will provide the lender with an understanding of whether or n

With Google searches for overseas holiday homes up 52 per cent this year compared to 2022, a group of international property experts at Your Overseas Home has revealed six ways the dynamic UK housing market could continue to affect overseas property purchases in mainland Europe in 2024.  Whether you’re selling up to move or retire abroad full-time, buying a holiday home with the family, or investing in buy-to-let properties abroad, the UK housing market can have a direct impact on the overseas buying mark

Letting agency, Hamptons has released data highlighting the number of limited companies set up to hold buy-to-let properties reached record highs in 2023, with 50,004 limited buy-to-let companies set up in the UK last year.  Below, James Mole, Director of property funding and insurance firm, J3 Advisory provides expert insight into what this could mean for UK property developers who are investing in buy-to-let properties, and what is driving this change in the market.  “Landlords have two options when it

Commercial property has historically been viewed as the more profitable asset class but more recently, residential property values have taken over. This is evident in the number of companies, across the board, converting commercial to residential property – from John Lewis investing in Build to Rent homes, to the many former office blocks that have been converted to residential units.  We deal with several such properties: an example of this is Peartree House, a former office block in Harlow, Essex. LRG r

An absence of up-to-date local plans stemming from the uncertainty surrounding the current requirement to review existing policies is causing difficulties for developers and local authorities alike, according to new research from planning and development consultancy Lichfields. While the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was meant to address the problem of outdated local plans by requiring a review of plans every five years, the new research has found that this process is not operating effectively

The annual report, ‘Hiring for the Future’ supports business owners within the property, real estate and construction industries approach recruitment and talent solutions in 2024. Key findings: ·      78% of employees would not sacrifice 5% of their salary if their employer was carbon neutral. ·      36% of employees find dedicated career pages most valuable when researching a company. ·      62% of employees prefer to be employed by a mid-sized company. ·      57% of businesses said they are most active

Molly Wheeler joins Principle from Remus, where she worked for nearly three years as a property manager and more recently as a senior estates manager. Ms Wheeler, a qualified member of the Institute of Residential Property Management and a Certified Practitioner at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CertCIH), had also previously worked as a property manager with GH Property Management Ltd. Polly Dyer, property director at Principle, explained that Ms Wheeler would now be working closely with new  senior

London's largest lettings and sales estate agent brand*, Foxtons, has revealed that the firm has seen a sharp uplift in both the number of sales applicants entering the London market in the last 30 days, as well as the number of viewings being scheduled across the firm’s 50+ branches.  At the start of 2024, data from independent industry source, TwentyCi, found that Foxtons has been the fastest growing sales estate agent in the top 10 in 2023, increasing market share by 28% year on year. Foxtons were also

Work will shortly begin to deliver hundreds of affordable homes, retail spaces and community facilities across Blackbird Leys, now formal planning permission has been granted by Oxford City Council. The council’s planning committee approved plans to carry out the transformational redevelopment in August, following more than four years of engagement with the Blackbird Leys community and more than 1,500 pieces of feedback from local residents and stakeholders.  The plans by housing association Peabody (form

Hard-up rental tenants are going without heating and food in order to pay their landlords, a new survey has found.  The study by Quotezone.co.uk revealed that 26% of tenants have turned their heating off to ensure they can meet their monthly rent.  A further 15% said they had gone without food so they could pay their rent with another 7% admitting to turning off electrical items to save on energy bills.  The cost of living crisis and high cost of fuel along with soaring rents means tenants are under sever

Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has today announced the acquisition of 71 acres of land with outline planning for a significant new settlement in Little Chalfont, south-east Buckinghamshire. The acquisition of the former golf club site and neighbouring property was facilitated by the acquisition of two local landowner companies, Biddulph (Buckinghamshire) Ltd. and Homestead (REL) Ltd. The sale was undertaken by CBRE. Nestled in the serenity of Home County countryside, Little Chalfont Park will b