UK first-time buyers need £11,000 larger deposits after COVID-19 property boom

First-time home buyers’ deposits jumped by almost £11,000 in the UK in 2020, as the pandemic fuelled surging property prices and tighter mortgage rules. The average buyer last year had to stump up just over £57,000 for their first home, a 23% jump on the previous year.   Click here to read the full article. […]

Estate agent offers printing for home students

A Swindon town centre estate agent has offered its printing services to parents and students during the pandemic. Castles Estate Agents on Commercial Road put out a social media post telling parents, carers and students to get in touch if they needed anything printed off or copied while working from home.   Click here to […]

13% fall in number of first-time buyers last year

2020 saw a fall in the overall number of first-time buyers, according to Halifax. The overall number of first-time buyers in 2020 was down by over 46,000 (13%) compared to 2019 (304,657 vs 351,260), with the onset of the first Covid-19 lockdown causing the property market to temporarily stop.   Click on this link to […]

Millions of pounds in unclaimed deposits have been left by tenants

It’s been revealed that in just one part of Scotland, renters have failed to claim back over £188,000 in deposits at the end of their tenancies – suggesting that many millions may be unclaimed across the UK as a whole. SafeDeposits Scotland says the precise figure for unclaimed deposits in the west of Scotland alone […]

Covid will drastically change rental landscape warn leading agents

A series of leading lettings agents have warned that the rental sector is set for significant change as the Coronavirus pandemic changes tenants’ and landlords’ aspirations. Speaking to Assist Inventories, the agents suggest attitudes to property type, location and quality will all change in the near future.   Click this link to read the full […]