The latest research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that sellers in Merseyside are proving the most resilient when it comes to asking prices, with just 27.2% of homes currently listed for sale having undergone a price reduction, meaning almost three quarters of properties remain at their original asking price. Lyons Bowe analysed current residential property listings across England to identify the proportion of homes currently available for sale that have seen their asking price reduced before securing a buyer. The analysis compares regional and county-level markets to reveal where sellers are proving most able to hold firm on price.* Across England, there are an estimated 393,752 homes currently available for sale, excluding those already sold subject to contract or under offer. Of these, 159,861 have undergone at least one price reduction, meaning 40.6% of current listings have seen sellers adjust their asking price. However, the figures vary considerably across the country, with some markets showing considerably greater resilience. Merseyside emerges as the strongest county-level market, with just 27.2% of available homes having undergone a price reduction. This means 72.8% of current listings in the county remain at their original asking price. Greater Manchester and Northumberland also rank among England’s most resilient markets, with 33.1% of current listings in each having seen a price reduction. They are followed by Rutland at 33.6% and East Riding of Yorkshire at 34.3%. The regional figures reinforce the strength of northern markets. The North West records the lowest proportion of price-reduced homes in England, at 32.4%, meaning more than two thirds of current listings in the region have not required an asking price reduction. The North East follows at 36.8%, while Yorkshire and the Humber ranks third at 37.8%. The West Midlands also performs relatively strongly, with 39.1% of current listings having seen a price reduction, while the East Midlands records 40.6%, broadly in line with the national figure. At the other end of the scale, the South East records the highest proportion of price-reduced homes, at 43.4%, followed by London at 42.0% and the East of England at 41.9%. The South West records 40.8%, also close to the national picture. The county-level data highlights an equally wide variation. While almost half of homes currently listed in Norfolk have undergone a price reduction, at 48.2%, the proportion falls to 27.2% in Merseyside. The Isle of Wight, East Sussex and Dorset also record relatively high levels of price reductions, at 46.7%, 46.4% and 45.5% respectively. Lyons Bowe says the findings demonstrate that national housing market trends can mask significant differences between individual regions and counties, with some local markets continuing to support sellers’ asking prices more effectively than others. Paul Lyons, Managing Director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, commented: “One of the most interesting things about the housing market at the moment is just how differently individual parts of the country are performing. Merseyside is a particularly striking example. With more than seven in 10 homes currently listed for sale yet to undergo a price reduction, sellers in the county are proving considerably more resilient than the national picture would suggest. The wider performance of the North West is also encouraging, with the region recording the lowest proportion of price-reduced listings in England. For sellers and estate agents, that points to a market where there is still scope to hold firm on asking prices when a property is accurately valued and appropriately marketed. Of course, a price reduction isn’t in itself a measure of whether a market is strong or weak. Sellers may reduce their asking price for all sorts of reasons, and the figures don’t tell us how quickly properties are selling. What they do show is where sellers have so far been less likely to need to adjust their expectations. That local picture is increasingly important. The national housing market can tell you a great deal, but it can’t necessarily tell an individual seller what is happening on their street. For estate agents, understanding those local differences is crucial when advising clients on pricing and setting realistic expectations from the outset.” Data tables and sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Councillors from New Forest District Council (NFDC), including its Portfolio Holder for Housing, visited VIVID’s new housing development in New Milton on Friday to see progress on 17 new affordable homes. The homes are being built on land adjacent to Milton Barns on Gore Road and are being delivered by leading housing association VIVID, in partnership with local contractor Glossbrook. The development will provide 14 houses and 3 flats for social rent. The scheme, which is being delivered with grant funding support from Homes England, was visited by Councillor Steve Davies, who holds responsibility for housing on New Forest District Council’s Cabinet and who serves as one of the local New Milton councillors. He was joined on the visit by fellow local councillor, Councillor Steve Clarke, together with Sophie Sajic, NFDC’s Strategic Director for Housing & Communities. Mike Shepherd, Chief Investment Officer at VIVID, said: “Strong relationships and partnerships with local councils are key to helping us deliver more affordable homes for customers and respond to the growing housing need in our communities. We know how important a safe, secure and affordable home is, so it’s encouraging to see these new homes taking shape in New Milton. As well as providing much-needed housing, we’re helping to create a good place to live where customers can put down roots, feel part of the community and build a positive future for themselves and their families.” Councillor Steve Davies, New Forest District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “This development is a significant achievement and highlights the value of partnership working in tackling local housing need. New Forest District Council has been pleased to work as an enabler, to support VIVID in bringing forward this scheme, helping to create high-quality homes that will make a real difference to residents’ lives. These new homes will provide security, opportunity and a strong foundation for individuals and families to build their future, allocated through the Council’s housing register.” Richard Fooks, Managing Director of Glossbrook Builders added: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with VIVID to deliver this affordable housing development, helping to provide much-needed, high-quality homes for the local community. This project reflects our commitment to building well-designed, sustainable homes that will have a lasting positive impact for future residents. We look forward to successfully delivering the scheme whilst supporting VIVID and their project partners in creating a development that will make a positive and lasting contribution to the local community.” The homes are expected to be completed by April next year, subject to progress on site. The Gore Road development is one of several VIVID’s delivering across the New Forest, helping more local people access affordable homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

CBRE Investment Management (“CBRE IM”), on behalf of CBRE UK Single Family Housing Partners (“SFHP”), has completed the acquisition of a 222-home single family housing portfolio in the South East of England from UK housebuilder, Bellway. The transaction represents the seed investment for CBRE IM’s newly launched SFHP strategy, established in partnership with Moda Living. The platform is focused on delivering and operating high-quality, professionally managed family rental homes in structurally undersupplied UK markets, providing investors with access to a growing and resilient residential segment. The portfolio comprises a mix of completed homes and forward-funded development across three sites in established residential markets: Stevenage, Milton Keynes and Burgess Hill. All homes are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027. The sites all have excellent access to high quality transport links, proximity to major employment centres, schooling and attractive local amenities. The developments will deliver predominantly two- and three-bedroom homes, with a layout and specifications aligned to the needs of family renters and long-term occupiers. Homes within the portfolio will be operated by CBRE IM’s partner, Moda Living. Tom James, Head of UK Transactions at CBRE Investment Management, said: “This is an exciting addition to our residential platform and a great first step in growing our single family housing fund, delivering high-quality houses on attractive sites in locations where demand for best-in-class, professionally managed rental housing continues to outstrip supply. Working alongside Moda Living, we are building a platform designed to deliver at scale, both in terms of operational execution and investor outcomes, focused on homes that meet the evolving needs of renters and generate sustainable income over time.” Johnny Caddick, CEO of Moda Living, commented: “These first acquisitions are an important milestone for the platform and reflect the progress we’ve made since launching the partnership earlier this year. “Demand for professionally managed rental homes continues to outstrip supply and, with the backing of committed, long-term capital and Moda’s integrated development and operational platform, we’re well placed to help address that challenge. We’re looking forward to building on this strong start as we continue to grow the platform by utilising Moda’s delivery and operational capabilities – together with the wider Caddick Group land pipeline – to deliver more high-quality homes across the UK.” Ian Gorst, Regional Chair, Bellway Homes, said: “We are delighted to have completed this portfolio transaction with CBRE IM and Moda as they launch their new UK Single Family BTR Fund. Their investment in Whitehouse Gardens, Milton Keynes, Forster Park, Stevenage, and Fallow Wood View, Burgess Hill demonstrates confidence in the strength of these outstanding new communities. We are proud they have chosen Bellway as their delivery partner, recognising our proven HBF 5-Star homebuilder track record for quality and customer satisfaction. We wish CBRE IM and Moda every success with this exciting new venture and look forward to building on our relationship in the years ahead.” The acquisition follows the recent launch of CBRE UK Single Family Housing Partners, a dedicated single family housing strategy established by CBRE IM in partnership with Moda Living, part of Caddick Group. Backed by an initial £400 million available capital and supported by core, long-term investor capital, the strategy has a clear ambition to grow to £2 billion in value over time. The platform is designed to address the growing demand for high-quality rental homes while providing investors with access to one of the UK’s most compelling residential sectors. TT&G Partners and CBRE advised CBRE IM, and Savills advised Bellway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Britain is experiencing a boom in professional landlord businesses, with new analysis revealing that the number of companies being formally incorporated has increased by over 1,700% since 2000. The research, from specialist landlord insurance provider Just Landlords, analysed Companies House records and points to a sector that is professionalising at an unprecedented rate, as landlords shift from informal property ownership into structured, incorporated businesses. Just 1,882 new landlord companies were registered in 2000, compared to a record high of 34,128 in 2025.  The pace of growth has accelerated sharply in recent years, with nearly 14,000 new companies registered in the first five months of 2026 alone, and the 2020s already accounting for more new landlord businesses than the entire period from 2000 to 2019 combined. New landlord company registrations by decade: Clark Ross, Managing Director of Just Landlords, comments:  “The scale of this shift is remarkable. We’re seeing clear evidence of the continued professionalisation of the private rented sector, with a growing number of landlords now operating through formal business structures.” While the long-term trend has been one of consistent growth, there are a range of factors that may have encouraged incorporation over recent years, including changes to mortgage interest tax relief, higher stamp duty costs for additional properties, evolving regulatory requirements and a growing focus on long-term portfolio management. The introduction of the 3% stamp duty surcharge on additional properties in April 2016 triggered an immediate surge in incorporations, with registrations jumping by nearly 59% in the following two years as landlords restructured their portfolios to manage their tax position more efficiently. Where are landlord companies growing the fastest? While London remains the single largest market, accounting for nearly a third of all registrations since 2000, the data reveals a striking shift in the regional picture. London’s share of annual registrations has been declining in recent years, as growth accelerates across the rest of the country. The devolved nations have seen some of the most dramatic recent growth, with Scotland’s annual registrations more than tripling since 2020 (+171%), and Northern Ireland (+148%) and Wales (+144%) following closely behind. Scotland now records over 2,100 new landlord companies per year, up from fewer than 400 in 2015. Annual Registration Growth, 2020 vs 2025: Clark Ross, Managing Director of Just Landlords, comments:  “What’s particularly interesting is that growth is no longer concentrated in London alone. Some of the strongest increases have been seen across Scotland, the Midlands and the North of England, suggesting that professional landlord businesses are becoming an increasingly important part of regional housing markets across the UK. “There are a number of factors that may be driving this shift. London’s property values have long made it the dominant market, but the comparatively lower entry costs in regional cities mean landlords can build a more diversified portfolio for the same initial outlay, and potentially see stronger yields in the process. Rising house prices in the South have also pushed more renters into regional markets, increasing demand and making those areas more attractive to professional investors. “At the same time, improved transport links and the lasting legacy of flexible working patterns since the pandemic have made regional cities more appealing places to live, which in turn has strengthened the rental market in those areas. In Scotland and Wales, we’ve also seen significant legislative change in recent years, which may have encouraged landlords to formalise their structures to ensure they’re operating compliantly within those frameworks. “For landlords looking to professionalise their operations, risk management, compliance and specialist insurance become even more important. Professional landlords are investing for the long term, and protecting those investments has never been more important.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A joint venture between Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q has welcomed Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee resolution on 30th June 2026 to grant outline planning permission for Zone 2 of the Chelmsford Garden Community. This decision represents a significant milestone in delivering one of the UK’s most ambitious new communities and marks a major step forward in realising the long-term vision for North East Chelmsford. Zone 2 will bring forward a residential-led, mixed-use neighbourhood of up to 3,500 new homes, alongside a wide range of essential infrastructure including schools, healthcare facilities,employment space, local centres and extensive green infrastructure. Building on the success of the partners’ existing development at Beaulieu, Zone 2 will play a central role in delivering the wider Garden Community, which will provide around 10,000 homes overall, designed in line with Garden City principles to create sustainable, well-connected neighbourhoods. The development will deliver: Together, these elements will create a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable place, where homes, jobs and services are delivered hand in hand with green space and community infrastructure. The application has been shaped through close collaboration with Chelmsford City Council, Essex County Council, Homes England and wider partners, building on years of masterplanning and community engagement. As well as making a substantial contribution to local housing needs, the scheme is designed to ensure infrastructure and community facilities are delivered alongside new homes. A strong focus on community stewardship will also ensure that public spaces and assets are carefully managed for the long term, giving residents a meaningful role in shaping their neighbourhood. Adam Simpson, Development and Project Management Director at L&Q said: “We welcome the Planning Committee’s decision to approve this important phase of the Chelmsford Garden Community. “This marks a significant step forward for our partnership with Countryside. Projects like this are vital, delivering new and affordable homes alongside schools, amenities, green spaces and infrastructure. This isn’t just about tackling the housing shortage but creating the conditions for communities to thrive. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to bring this new neighbourhood forward.” James Harkin, Head of Strategic Land at Vistry, commented: “Reaching this stage for Zone 2 reflects years of careful planning to create a place that genuinely works for the long term. What sets this scheme apart is its landscape-led approach and the way it brings together homes, jobs and everyday amenities within walkable neighbourhoods. “The vision for three distinct villages, connected by green corridors and active travel routes, will help foster a strong sense of identity and community from the outset. As we move forward, our focus will remain on delivering high-quality places that prioritise sustainability, support local economies and offer residents a better way of living”. The resolution is subject to the completion of planning obligations and legal agreements. Subject to this, development will be delivered in phases over the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals