On Friday 29 January 2021, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister confirmed the alert level four lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Wales for the next three weeks. This means no changes to the existing rules on house moves and related activity.
Propertymark continues to engage with MPs ahead of the virtual debate on extending the relief to Stamp Duty Land Tax. Following the announcement of the session, politicians have been sent a briefing outlining reasons for extending the relief for home buyers.
The Scottish Government has announced in their Budget 2021-2022 that the change to the residential LBTT nil rate band, introduced in July 2020, will not be extended but the 100 per cent non-domestic rates relief will be for at least the first three months of the financial year.
Highest numbers for the month of December were recorded in the NAEA Propertymark Housing Market Report for house hunters and sales agreed per estate agent branch.
Figures published in January 2021 show a 111 per cent increase in housebuilding in England from July to September 2020 compared with the previous quarter. Data for the same period also show a quarterly rise of 185 per cent more dwellings completed.
Propertymark Industry Supplier, Gallagher offers practical steps that can help agents and their clients reduce the risk of damage to property as areas of the nation are set to see further warnings of more inclement weather to come. Damage caused by the escape of water from frozen pipes and other equipment can be extremely costly in repairs and disruption.
First-time buyers looking to purchase a home in England will continue to receive Government support under the revised Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme (2021-2023), which is now open for applications with buyers able to move into their new properties from 1 April 2021.
A group of 50 Conservative MPs are calling on the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak to extend the stamp duty cut for properties worth less than £500,000 a further 12 months in a major boost alongside The Telegraph’s ‘Stamp Out the Duty’ campaign.
The Welsh Government’s Building Safety White Paper covers all multi-occupied residential buildings, from houses converted into flats through to high rise apartment blocks. It sets out major reforms to how properties are designed, built, managed, and lived in whilst proposing clear lines of accountability and a stronger regulatory system.
In November, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the UK Government’s Fire Safety Bill making changes to the current legislation to protect leaseholders from having to pay for historical fire safety remedial work, including the removal of dangerous cladding.
First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced today, 13 January, six new changes to COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland to come into force on Saturday, 16 January, subject to Parliament approval. Among these changes are statutory guidance on working from home and a limitation on working within other people's homes by law.
Propertymark, along with other leading residential property bodies across the UK, have published an open letter to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Thalia Baldwin, Director of the Geospatial Commission highlighting the potential benefits from implementing a widely adopted Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN).
Changes to off-payroll working rules (IR35) are coming into effect in April 2021. Agents must understand and prepare for the changes and new rules, be mindful of potential additional costs when entering new arrangements with suppliers, and carefully consider renewals of existing contracts with workers for future engagements.
The Welsh Government has today, 8 January, issued a statement confirming they have reviewed the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 and confirm that Wales will remain at alert level 4 with a further review on 29 January 2021.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 came into operation at midnight on 7 January 2021 which provides the legal authority for home moves to continue during this period of lockdown.
Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick has announced that millions of leaseholders will be given the right to extend their lease by a maximum term of 990 years at zero ground rent as part of the biggest reforms to English property law for forty years, fundamentally making home ownership fairer and more secure.
The Land Registry is extending the period of time to respond to requests for information for most applications, which will come into effect from 11 January, where property professionals will have 40 days to reply to a request.
Following the national lockdown announcements for both England and Scotland, the Northern Ireland Executive has confirmed that although new measures are forthcoming, the current position on the housing market will remain the same.
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a one-off top-up grant of up to £9,000 per business for those that have been made to close during the latest lockdown.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, today, 4 January, announced England will move to a new national lockdown that requires, under UK Coronavirus Alert Level 5, people must stay at home, except for limited exceptions.
Following the statement made on 4 January by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 10) Regulations 2021, will come into force on 5 January, allowing persons to only leave home for a reasonable excuse.