BPF
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Latest property news
Net Zero target out of reach without financial help, say industry leaders
A deadline of 2050 to achieve a carbon-free property sector will not be met unless there are policy changes, the Government is warned.
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Latest property news
British Property Federation makes a bid for young estate agents
The British Property Federation (BPF) is making a land grab for young sales and letting agents with a networking organisation for anyone who has worked in the industry for ten years or less. Normally focussing largely on commercial property, the BPF wants to attract to attract from “all corners of the real estate industry” including estate agents and help develop tomorrow’s industry leaders. “We feel that younger professionals within the property industry are under-represented within its membership organisations which is why we’ve launched this initiative,” a spokesperson told The Negotiator. Launch party Called BPF Futures, it will launch at a party to be held at BNP Paris-Bas Real Estate – which recently bought agent Strutt & Parker – and then offer dozens of networking events throughout next year including site visits at development sites, interactive workshops, networking events, podcasts and the opportunity to influence BPF working groups. The launch will hear speeches from several industry leaders including Michaela Hancock from US Build to Rent giant Greystar. All this comes at a cost – £50 for the first year and £75 a year thereafter. “We are delighted to introduce BPF Futures to the real estate industry, a new network to allow…
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Latest property news
BPF paints a stark picture of housing supply
The British Property Federation says lack of impetus is holding back house building.
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Housing Market
Sink estates will rise again
The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed proposals from the Government to regenerate some of the country’s most run-down housing estates, praising the Government for ensuring that “binding guarantees” will be put in place for tenants and homeowners, to ensure that their right to a home is protected. The government has launched a package of measures to transform 100 housing estates across the country, including a £140m fund and the launch of an Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine (left). Ian Fletcher, director of policy (real estate) at the British Property Federation, said, “There are some very old council estates that are in need of regeneration, but that process must treat existing residents fairly. The Government is therefore right to put some sorts of guarantees at the forefront of its policy and encourage a partnership approach. “Communities need not only homes, but jobs, schools and green spaces and other leisure opportunities to create places people want to live in. If the Government gets this right it could be some of the best use of £140m it has ever spent.” The Prime Minister’s announcement comes ahead of a report from property advisor Savills which will…
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Latest property news
New smoke alarm laws passed
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations have finally been passed in Parliament, giving Landlords and Managing Agents until 1st October 2015 to comply. Following final scrutiny of the measures in the House of Lords last week, landlords and Managing Agents now have less than two weeks to ensure that all tenancies have a smoke alarm fitted on every floor of their property where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation. They will also be required to put a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where a solid fuel is burnt. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £5,000. Baroness Williams of Trafford, the Communities and Local Government Minister, insisted that the aim of the regulations are to “save lives and not catch landlords out.” But while many professionals in the housing sector have welcomed the aims of the regulations, there are concerns that the Government has ignored calls from across the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to reconsider the timeframe for its implementation. David Cox (left), Managing Director of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), commented, “Whilst these measures are entirely sensible, ARLA is concerned that landlords will not…
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Housing Market
Housing completions soar in England
House building in England is now at its highest level since 2008 following a significant rise in the volume of new homes being developed, new Government figures show. In the year to June, 131,060 residential properties were completed, a rise of 15 per cent on the same period a year ago. The latest quarterly house building statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that between April and June, the number of completions rose by 22 per cent year-on-year. The Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis (right), welcomed the figures, but admitted there was more to do, vowing that the Government would “deliver 275,000 affordable homes by the end of this Parliament”. However, the number of new homes being started dropped by 1 per cent over the year, to 136,320, and by 6 per cent on a quarterly basis. The data was described as “encouraging” by Henry Gregg (left), the National Housing Federation’s(NHF) Assistant Director of Campaigns. But he also said that it was crucial that we as a nation continue to increase our efforts “to build the homes that are desperately needed”. He commented, “Last year alone we built less than half of the homes needed, pushing house…
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