Fast-Growing Agency Seals Fourth Acquisition of the Year
Dwelly completed its fourth acquisition of 2026, buying Midlands‑based lettings firm Albery Tyson and adding about 250 fully managed properties to its network. The deal follows a £69 million (≈$88 million) funding raise that fuels the company’s rapid expansion. Dwelly’s strategy targets independent agencies with strong local reputations, integrating them into its SBK Lettings platform. The acquisition leverages AI‑led technology to reduce administrative workloads and improve operational efficiency.
EYE NEWS UPDATE: Court Date Set in £1.5bn Legal Battle Against Rightmove
The Competition Appeal Tribunal scheduled a hearing for 2‑3 November 2026 in a £1.5 bn (≈$1.9 bn) collective action alleging Rightmove overcharged UK estate agents and new‑home developers. Led by former CMA panelist Jeremy Newman, the claim accuses the property‑portal giant of abusing its...
UK Build Costs Pushed Higher by Global Instability
Savills’ latest Build: Perspective index rose to +36 in early 2026 after slipping negative at the end of 2025, signalling renewed pressure on UK construction costs. Geopolitical tensions and upcoming steel‑trade tariff changes slated for July 2026 are driving material...
Estate Agents Report Steady Gains in Sales and Lettings Activity
UK estate agents reported modest gains in March 2026 across both sales and lettings. The average agreed sales per branch rose to 8.14 and buyer registrations climbed to 78 per branch, while viewings increased to 2.8 per listed property. In...
New Build Prices Fall in Several UK Regions as Market Splits
New‑build home prices in the UK showed a split pattern between April 2025 and April 2026. Prices fell in Wales (from £385,488 to £365,789, about $480,000 to $457,000) and other regions, while London rose to £685,677 (~$857,000) and the East of England...
What Is Currently Happening in the UK Property Market?
The UK housing market recorded 444,000 gross residential sales YTD, a 5.2% dip from 2025 but still above 2024 levels. New listings rose 0.9% YoY to 671,000, while the gap between asking and agreed prices widened to 24.5% (£466k/$590k vs...
HMO Landlord Wins Appeal Against Penalty
The Upper Tribunal overturned a £19,600 (≈$25,000) penalty imposed on landlord Dr Noshaba Khiljee after a council deemed her a “person having control” of an unlicensed HMO. The tribunal ruled that rack‑rent must be assessed on the property’s actual HMO income—not...
Luxury Estate Agency Brand Enters UK Ultra-Prime Homes Market
Forbes Global Properties has entered the UK ultra‑prime residential market, focusing on London homes priced above £10 million (≈ $12.5 million) and properties over £5 million (≈ $6.3 million) elsewhere. The launch is led by veteran broker Martin Bikhit, who will serve as the exclusive UK...
Overpricing Leaves Nearly Half of Listed Homes Unsold
Zoopla’s three‑year analysis of UK listings shows that 44% of homes remain unsold, with overpricing identified as the chief cause. Sellers who list 5% above local market values see a roughly 5% drop in sale probability, and a 10% premium...
Lloyds Set to Launch £5,000 Deposit Mortgage for First-Time Buyers
Lloyds Banking Group will roll out a new mortgage on 18 May aimed at first‑time buyers with only a $6,350 deposit. The five‑year fixed‑rate loan carries a 5.89% interest rate and is available for properties up to $381,000, with a loan‑to‑value...
Alto Embeds AI Analyst Across Estate Agency Platform
Alto has introduced Alto IQ, an AI‑driven analyst built directly into its CRM for estate and letting agents. The tool lets users pose natural‑language questions and instantly receive data‑backed answers, complete with trend explanations. It works across sales, lettings, applicant and...
UK House Prices Expected to Keep Falling as Mortgage Rates Climb
UK house prices are slipping as mortgage rates rise amid heightened Middle East tensions, according to Knight Frank’s residential research head Tom Bill. Halifax’s latest index shows a 0.1% monthly decline in April, bringing the average home price to £299,313 (about...
New Property Laws Set to Feature in the King’s Speech
On Wednesday, King Charles will deliver the King’s Speech outlining the government’s legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session. Among the expected measures are two housing‑related bills: the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, which would broaden leaseholders’ rights and cap...
UK Rental Market Shows Growing Regional Divergence in Latest Figures
The Propertymark April 2026 data shows the UK rental market splitting sharply by region. Scotland leads with a 3.9% monthly rent rise to £1,167 (≈ $1,480), while Northern Ireland and London also post gains of 3.7% and 3% respectively. Wales, the North East...
Estate Agents Accused of Pricing Above Market Expectations
Estate agents across England are listing homes above what buyers are willing to pay, widening the gap between asking prices and final sale values. House Buyer Bureau data shows London sellers price homes at about $569,000—roughly $144,000 below the estimated...