Jerome Smail

1 week ago | propertyindustryeye.com | Jerome Smail

New powers could soon come into force in Great Yarmouth to crack down on unscrupulous landlords and improve housing conditions, the Eastern Daily Press reports. Great Yarmouth Borough Council is considering an expansion of its selective licensing scheme to cover around 5,000 privately rented homes in the Nelson, Cobholm and Southtown and Central and Northgate wards – areas identified as among the most deprived in England.

1 week ago | propertyindustryeye.com | Jerome Smail

The number of UK property transactions fell sharply in April 2025, according to provisional figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). For residential properties, the seasonally adjusted figure was 64,680 transactions, representing a 64% drop compared to March 2025 and a 28% decline from April 2024. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, residential transactions fell to 55,970, down 66% month-on-month and 28% year-on-year.

1 week ago | propertyindustryeye.com | Jerome Smail

Rents in England increased for the fifth consecutive month in May, according to the latest Goodlord Rental Index. The latest price jump could mark the start of the seasonal ‘summer surge’, with further rises expected over the coming months. The average rent for a new tenancy in May rose by almost 1% from April, reaching £1,226 – the highest recorded by the index since October 2024. The North East recorded the biggest month-on-month increase at 2.2%, followed by the East Midlands with a 1.8% rise.

1 week ago | propertyindustryeye.com | Jerome Smail

A new Shared Ownership Code has launched, designed to improve the experience of shared owners and promote best practice across the sector. The code, developed by the Shared Ownership Council, follows an 18-month consultation with customers, housing providers, mortgage lenders and sector specialists. A four-month pilot involving eight housing providers – Clarion Housing Group, Heylo, Housing 21, L&Q, LiveWest, Onward, SNG, and Stonewater – helped refine the final version for wider industry rollout.

1 week ago | propertyindustryeye.com | Jerome Smail

UK-based property and fintech platform OneDome has announced the acquisition of digital mortgage broker Trussle, trading as Better.co.uk, from Better Home and Finance Holding Company. The transaction is subject to final approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). OneDome integrates mortgage, legal and insurance services into a “digital homebuying journey”. Its HomeBuyer Service bundles mortgage advice, conveyancing, and insurance into a single fixed-price package.