Buy-to-Let Lending Rose in Q4 2025 Amid Remortgaging Growth
Buy‑to‑let mortgage lending in the UK jumped 18.2% in number and 21.3% in value in Q4 2025, with 59,489 new loans totalling £11.2 bn (≈$14.2 bn). The surge was almost entirely driven by landlords refinancing existing debt, while fresh purchase financing remained flat. Average gross rental yields rose to 7.18% and the average interest rate on new loans fell to 4.77%, boosting the interest‑cover ratio to 218%. Fixed‑rate loans grew modestly, arrears fell, but possessions rose 10% over the quarter.
Property Market Stabilises but Affordability and Uncertainty Slow Activity
The UK property market showed modest stabilization in Q1 2026, with buyer‑friendly conditions but muted transaction momentum. Listing volumes rose 3% year‑on‑year, led by a 6% jump in January, while sold‑subject‑to‑contract activity stayed 8% below a year earlier. Mortgage valuation activity...
Major Housebuilder Cuts Land Buying Plans Amid Global Uncertainty
Barratt Redrow, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, announced it will approve only 7,000‑9,000 land plots this year, down from its earlier 10,000‑12,000 target. The cut reduces projected land spending to £700‑£800 m (about $875‑$1 bn), a modest decline from the prior £800‑£900 m...
Welsh Proptech Firm Secures Big Investment to Scale Platform
Welsh proptech startup Openmoove announced it has secured £700,000 (approximately $890,000) in equity funding to accelerate its B2B platform for estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage brokers. The round was led by the Development Bank of Wales, with contributions from HAATCH...
New Real Estate Talent Acquisition Role for Former Colliers Chairman
Madison Lincoln has hired former Colliers UK & Ireland chairman Tony Horrell as a senior advisor to expand its advisory services and deepen relationships with senior real‑estate leaders. Horrell brings more than four decades of experience in real‑estate and capital...
Bettermove Introduces Chain-Mending Service to Tackle Failed Transactions
Bettermove has unveiled a chain‑mending service that steps in when a buyer withdraws, purchasing the property to keep the transaction chain moving. The offering targets estate agents, landlords and sellers, aiming to reduce the roughly 25% failure rate of UK...
House Sharing Becomes ‘Embarrassing’ by 29 – but One in Ten Still Do It
Nationwide’s research shows that while 69% of Britons find living alone unaffordable, the stigma of house sharing peaks at age 29. Yet 11% of adults still co‑habit with parents, friends or strangers, pushing the average age of shared‑housing residents to...
Property Market Showing Signs of Resilience Amid Mortgage Rate Rises
UK housing activity remained surprisingly steady in March despite mortgage rates climbing to 4.57%, the highest since last April. The share of home movers accepting rates above 4% jumped to 83% from 58% in February, the sharpest month‑on‑month rise since...
Fast-Growing Agency Enters London Market with Third Acquisition of Year
Dwelly entered the London lettings market by acquiring Eden Harper, its third acquisition this year. The deal adds roughly 250 fully managed properties and expands Dwelly’s footprint into the capital. It follows a recent £69 million (≈$86 million) funding round that fuels...
Essex Agency Expands Portfolio by Acquiring High-Value Home Specialist
The Property Franchise Group’s Northwood Chelmsford has acquired the Zoe Napier Group, a specialist agency focused on high‑value homes in Essex. The deal follows the late‑2025 purchase of Shenfield‑based WN Properties, further expanding the group’s regional footprint. Zoe Napier will remain as a...
Platform Launched to Support Rent Reviews Under Renters’ Rights Act
MarketRent, a proptech startup founded by Fixflo co‑founders Rajeev Nayyar and Duncan Careless, has launched an early‑adopter program for its rent‑review platform in England. The tool centralizes market data, comparable rents, indexation and landlord approvals, creating a transparent audit trail...
International Estate Agencies Extend Global Reach with New Market Entries
Fine & Country announced its first Madrid office, targeting high‑end residential sales and lettings, led by architect Alejandra Santos and entrepreneur Carlos Rojo. Chestertons entered India through a partnership with BSE‑listed Justo Realfintech, forming Chestertons India Private Limited to serve...
Propalt Launches ChatGPT Connector to Give Agents AI Access to Data
Propalt, a property data and prospecting platform, has unveiled a ChatGPT connector that lets estate agents query its datasets using natural language. The integration returns details on sales, lettings, landlord portfolios, planning applications, charge records and market averages, aiming to...
UK Construction Confidence Holds Despite Geopolitical Uncertainty
UK construction confidence held steady in March 2026 despite rising geopolitical tension from the war in Iran, according to Barbour ABI data. Contract awards reached £7.18 bn (about $9.2 bn), only a slight dip from February but in line with Q1 trends...
Charity Donations Through Deposit Protection Service Hit £1m Mark
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) has raised about $1.25 million in interest donations for homelessness charity St Mungo’s since launching the partnership at the end of 2024. The funds come from interest accrued on tenants' safeguarded deposits, which tenants can elect to...
