Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “Properties are going under offer at an alarming pace at the moment and buyers continue to swarm the market despite the dwindling hopes of a stamp duty reprieve. There also remains a severe shortage of stock to meet this demand and so sellers are achieving a very good price for their property, often at, or in excess of the original asking price. While a reduction in buyer demand is expected towards the back end of this year, the scales will remain firmly tipped in favour of sellers due to the imbalance between supply and demand and so we should see a buoyant level of property price appreciation remain for the duration of the year.” Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “We’re currently seeing huge rates of house price growth not seen since some time before the last property market crash. There’s no end in sight where this current market performance is concerned, despite some having predicted a market slump on and off since the pandemic first started. It’s important to remember that while the market did show signs of slowing down as we approached the original stamp duty deadline, we’re now looking at a very different market altogether. People are returning to work and life is gradually returning to a greater sense of normality and so the stimulation of a stamp duty saving is no longer required in order to maintain market activity. London, in particular, is showing strong signs of a shift in momentum across both the rentals and sales market. This is being driven by a realisation that we can’t work from a secluded countryside bolthole forever and now that we are returning to the workplace, a lengthy commute on a stuffy train is no longer as manageable when it’s required five days a week instead of one or two.” Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The stamp duty holiday isn’t the be-all and end-all where homeownership is concerned and it certainly isn’t the primary factor causing buyers to enter the market at mass. So its tapered expiry is unlikely to cause current levels of market activity to evaporate overnight. Once both the initial and extended deadlines have expired, the fires of buyer demand will continue to be stoked by the availability of 95% mortgage products and very low interest rates. Of course, there will be some period of natural market realignment after such a sustained period of manic activity, but we’re worlds away from seeing a property market crash.” Matthew Cooper, Founder & Managing Director of Yes Homebuyers, commented: “It’s crunch time for the UK market and we can expect to see a far less positive outlook from here on out where house price appreciation is concerned. For far too long, homebuyers have been borrowing beyond their means and offering above the odds in a desperate scramble to secure a stamp duty holiday saving. Now that this is starting to slip through their fingers we will see a reduction in transaction levels and the inevitable decline in property prices that will soon follow.”

For investors looking to add another property to their portfolio this year, there are plenty of options to weigh up as the market remains buoyant, with one Nottingham riverside development offering an exclusive incentive to those looking to reserve a waterfront apartment by the end of July. The developers behind The Waterside Apartments in Nottingham, Monk Estates and Harmony Bridge, are offering buyers who reserve a property by the end of July and complete before the end of September, the chance to have their full stamp duty tax paid in full. The stamp duty holiday was introduced by the chancellor in 2020 to give the property market a boost. After extending the deadline, it is now due to end in June 2021 for properties up the value of £500,000. If investors proceed with sales at The Waterside they would not be able to benefit from the normal stamp duty holiday due to the time taken to complete a sale, therefore the developers have announced that if buyers reserve by the end of July then stamp duty will be paid in full for anyone to complete by end of September. This will not include the 3% premium for being an investor, but property investors looking to secure a quick sale with no chain can take advantage of the stamp duty offer – and invest in a modern, sleek city apartment to their portfolio with views across the River Trent. Situated on Pavilion Road, with enviable vistas across West Bridgford, Nottingham city and the river, the 121-home Waterside Apartments boast a central location, close proximity to independent shops, bars and restaurants, and is in walking distance of the city centre with its historic spots such as Nottingham Castle, the Lace Market and Old Market Square. Sam Monk, director at Monk Estates, said: “Investors looking to purchase their next property can benefit from diversifying their portfolio with the addition of an apartment – they are a reliable investment, holding value and maintaining appeal to residents looking for both short and long-term lets. “Apartments in a great location, with waterside views surrounded by convenient and desirable amenities and attractions, will likely increase in value too, making them an excellent investment for the long term. Appealing to a wide demographic including young professionals, couples, students and commuters wishing to benefit from the lifestyle that living in an apartment affords them, it will be easy to secure both short and long term letting arrangements with tenants looking to move into a centrally located home. “Over recent years, Nottingham has seen an influx in people relocating from major cities, including London. This shift has only increased following lockdown, as many are keen to leave the capital and its high overhead prices behind, looking for cheaper desirable locations, as the trend towards remote and flexible working continues. “Many local experts including the chief executive of Invest in Nottingham put the influx of people from the capital down to the city’s attractive affordable house prices and lower cost of living, solidifying Nottingham on the map as a desirable place to invest in property, offering quality living spaces for those looking to rent. “Apartments are also lower maintenance compared with a traditional house, so landlords have less worry when it comes to the upkeep and preservation of their property. The Waterside Apartments offers investors a unique opportunity to purchase waterfront apartments that hold tremendous appeal to tenants – stunning views and close proximity to Nottingham’s landmarks, amenities and major employers make it a highly attractive place to live. Anyone looking to invest in an apartment here can take advantage of having their stamp duty paid in full, if they reserve a property by the end of the July.” 14 two-bed apartments remain available to purchase, priced from £285,000 to £395,000. Visitors are welcome to view the three-bed show penthouse – complete with a panoramic roof terrace overlooking the River Trent, open plan island kitchen and bathroom with floor to ceiling windows. All homes have been finished to the finest quality using high specification fixtures and fittings, with onsite parking and vibrant communal spaces including a reception concierge.

tado° has announced a new investment of €38 million (USD 46 million), raised from noventic and existing shareholders. tado° and noventic will enter a strategic partnership to develop and distribute new energy-efficient proptech solutions for the commercial housing market. The investment will also be used to drive technologies for sustainable heat generation, OEM solutions for heating and cooling manufacturers, and for expanding into new markets. The commercial housing market is set for digitisation and consists of over 50m homes in Europe[1], which are managed by real estate companies and municipalities. The European Green Deal is putting political pressure on the sector to digitally transform and to manage its energy consumption significantly more efficiently through new technology. Real estate companies are adopting innovation faster than ever. 81% of real estate organisations plan to use new digital technologies in traditional business processes and spending on tech and software is continuously growing.[2] With its intelligent home climate management, tado° provides solutions for consumers and businesses. This includes smart thermostats for heating and air conditioning systems, mobile consumer applications, as well as SaaS products for energy utilities and heating service companies. Today tado° partners with the majority of the top 20 utilities across Europe to help transform them from being an energy commodity supplier to becoming strongly positioned as energy service providers. The commercial housing market shall become a new market segment on the company’s mission to digitise the vast majority of buildings. “The partnership with noventic will kickstart new proptech solutions for the commercial housing market and we’re thrilled to be partnering with noventic who have a wealth of experience in this sector,” says tado° CEO Toon Bouten. “As a leader in intelligent home climate management, tado° is in an excellent position to bring our energy-efficient solutions to this rapidly-transforming market.” “Against the background of the European climate targets, we want to bring together consumption data with smart consumption control to provide even better support to the professional housing industry in the implementation of their energy saving strategies in residential quarters,” says noventic Managing Director Dirk Then. noventic CFO Stephan Bause adds: “With this strategic investment, we are expanding our solution portfolio together with tado° to include a market- leading home climate control technology.” Through the partnership, tado° and noventic will offer new and better energy efficiency and digitalisation solutions to a huge new market of multi-family homes and commercial buildings. At the same time tado° will continue to drive its consumer business, and solutions business for utilities and heating service companies.

The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is an annual bidding round offered by the government for academies and sixth form colleges to apply for capital funding, with the objective of identifying buildings in need of repair and ensuring they’re safe. While the initial bidding stage doesn’t begin until the new school term in September, Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager at PermaRoof UK, discusses how it’s never too early to prepare for your submission and how suppliers can assist local authorities with the bidding process. CIF funding improves the facilities of schools, academies and colleges – so applying for the capital grant is essential for the development, maintenance and safety of education establishments. The CIF provides financial support for a wide range of schemes, having funded 1,400 projects across England in the 2019-2020 academic year, but does tend to prioritise certain applications – namely roof, window and central heating replacements. Bidding for CIF funding opens at the beginning of the autumn term and is awarded in the spring – normally around April. But for any college or sixth form thinking they might be in need of flat roof repairs, the time is now to start preparing, and that’s where experienced commercial specification managers can provide vital support in securing the grant. Carrying out surveys The first step in any potential flat roofing project is to investigate the condition of the roof and conduct a survey to find improvements that are required to bring it back up to regulations – from checking thermal regulation and fall of water discharge, to structural soundness and whether there are enough outlets. A survey of this kind is essentially looking to pre-empt any problems before they occur and provide a solution to the roof’s current state. This means that, depending on the results of the survey, there might not be any action required. As a result of this, when finding a specification manager to carry out the survey, it’s important that you opt for someone who is able to offer no obligation, completely free of charge surveys, core testing and condition reports, like PermaRoof, which can then be used to support a CIF submission – if one is required. Arranging quotes and guaranteeing warranties Once the next steps have been identified, getting a quote for the work that needs to be carried out can support your CIF application as it evidences exactly how the funding will be utilised. As schools play a significant role in society, it makes sense that when refurbishing existing sites, materials that guarantee longevity are specified – creating a legacy for generations to come. Warranties are the most effective way to guarantee quality assurance – providing vital protection and security – and will be beneficial in your application in showing sound investment. Choosing a full system from a reputable brand will usually mean the inclusion of a warranty – giving you further peace of mind. But do remember to check the guarantee you are being offered as some cheaper options may only offer a five-year warranty, whereas more reputable brands, such as Firestone, will deliver up to 20 years. At PermaRoof, we have access to a national network of registered installers who will be able to provide a quote for the project, with full support and warranties assured. All our contractors have learned the correct method of installing our flagship system – Firestone RubberCover single ply EPDM – and come with a warranty as standard. However, this doesn’t mean our commercial team steps back. We stay on-hand to provide project management and a full consultative approach, offering that much-needed peace of mind that the correct contractor and solutions are being sought and provided. Collating the findings Once the full roof survey has been completed, the report written and full quotes arranged, it’s time to collate the findings into a report to be submitted to the CIF. What’s worth bearing in mind is that every case is unique and has its own timeline – there is no one size fits all. Funding can either happen quickly or it can take up to two years.  Usually, funding will be gained retrospectively after completion, however, depending on the severity of the project, there are occasions where it can be awarded while the project is ongoing or even beforehand. Bringing in the experts The UK’s educational establishments are vitally important to our country’s future. The fact they remained open to support vulnerable students and the children of key workers throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic is a testament to the fact that schools simply can’t close – regardless of what is happening in the world, there will also be a need for certain school places.  Therefore, it’s in everyone’s best interests to ensure the buildings themselves are maintained to the highest possible standard – and CIF funding helps to contribute towards this. Whether contractors and suppliers are brought in to assist with a reactive issue (for example a leaky roof) or a proactive approach (such as a full roof overlay), ensuring you’re getting a comprehensive service that offers a guiding hand from initial consultation through to tender and final sign off means academies and sixth form colleges can focus on educating the next generation – some of whom could decide to pursue a career in building products.  For more information on PermaRoof, please visit www.permaroof.co.uk or call 01773 608839.