The latest data release by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has shown that while the average agent across Britain is listing 15 properties for sale, this measure of current market activity ranges between 10 to 25 from one major city to the next.  GetAgent analysed its own internal data* looking at for sale stock listed across 30 British major cities over the last six months before comparing this to the number of unique agents to have listed this stock, to reveal the average number of homes currently on the books of agents within these major cities.  The research shows that over the last six months a total of 226,120 homes have been listed for sale across the 30 major cities analysed by GetAgent. These homes have been listed by 15,046 unique agents, meaning that on average, these agents are listing 15 properties each.  Of course, this current gauge of buyer market activity differs drastically when breaking the market down from one city to the next.  Plymouth is home to the nation’s busiest estate agents at present, where 4,211 homes have been listed in the last six months by 167 individual agents. This means that those agents who have bolstered their stock levels over the last six months are listing an average of 25 properties.  Agents in Newcastle aren’t far behind in this respect. While the city has seen more than three times the number of new listings over the last six months when compared to Plymouth (12,652), these homes are being marketed by 550 unique agents, meaning that on average, these agents are listing 23 properties each.  Across both Bristol (22) and Norwich (20), agents have listed 20 or more properties in the last six months, while in Glasgow, Liverpool, Cornwall and Nottingham they’ve averaged 18 listings.  In contrast, agents in Bath, Bolton, Chester and Bradford have seen the most muted level of market activity. Over the last six months, those agents to have listed homes for sale have done so at a rate of 10 listings each.  Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “It makes sense that agents in cities with lower property values and fees need to sell more properties to survive as a business. In contrast, agents in cities like London can get by with fewer completions, as each one generates a large fee. A good exception to this rule seems to be Bristol, which has relatively high property values, yet the average agent still lists 22 properties every 6 months. However, at the other end of the scale are Bolton and Bradford, where not only are the average fees very low, but the average agent also lists only 10 properties every 6 months. Obviously, this is just an average, and many agents will be doing better than this, but it does demonstrate how tough the market is in some locations. Hopefully, agents in these areas have strong Lettings departments.” Data tables and sources Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

As over 12,000 delegates gather in Leeds this week for UKREiiF – the biggest property conference in the country – new research shows that younger people in Leeds are keen to stay in the ‘vibrant and friendly’ city but are worried about being priced out of the area because of the lack of affordable homes to rent or buy. The research – ‘Get cracking and build’ – carried out by digital communications experts, Shared Voice, and Just Build Homes, of over 350 18-44 years olds living in Leeds shows: The price many were willing to pay for a realistic chance of owning their own home within five years was high with four out of ten people saying they would forgo having children. Two-thirds said they were willing to give up foreign holidays and social activities to be in their own home. There was a lot of enthusiasm for life in Leeds among this age group who praised good public transport links to shops, parks, and other amenities as well as diverse cultural and nightlight experiences, a vibrant sense of community, friendly people, and excellent job opportunities. Wyn Evans, a Founding Director of Shared Voice, said: “This level of support for housebuilding is extraordinary and demonstrates that there are millions of people out there who are supportive of housebuilding.  “This younger generation do not normally engage with the planning process and developers need to be asking why traditional planning communications are failing to reach this large audience. “It also demonstrates why Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have come out so strongly in support of new homes – there are votes in it, lots of votes.” Millie Dodd, Spokesperson for Just Build Homes, added: “Our findings in Leeds reflect the conversations Just Build Homes is having with people affected by the housing crisis all over the country. The cost of housing is continuing to rise and is becoming out of reach for many because there are simply not enough homes being built. We just need to ‘Get cracking and build’.” Shared Voice and Just Build Homes will be teaming up with planning experts Quod, to launch the survey findings at the UKREiiF conference, on Tuesday 21 May at 3pm.  Emma Lancaster, a director at Quod’s Leeds office, said: “This report comes at a critical time. The Council is in the early stages of its work on Leeds Local Plan 2040, grappling with the question of how it should meet its housing needs over the next Plan Period. “Significant progress in housing land supply and delivery has been made in Leeds in recent years, but this report confirms that not all parts of the city are benefiting, and that a real step change is required if the Council is going to meet its identified needs for affordable housing and achieve its Best City ambition.” Shared Voice was launched in April 2024 to create a brand-new offer for the planning communications market, aimed at helping connecting developers with the silent, pro-housing majority for the first time. Shared Voice provide a single communications solution from pre-application to Committee. The offer is unique because it focuses on finding genuine supporters and making that the focal point of communications at every stage – rather than spending time and money trying to persuade objectors. It is challenging the traditional model of exhibitions and behind the scenes lobbying, in favour of leveraging the power of the silent supportive majority. Shared Voice is the team behind Just Build Homes, a YIMBY brand that has consistently and successfully mobilised thousands of people across the UK to support planning applications for new housing in their own area. A full copy of the report can be obtained here: “Get cracking and build” – Housing attitudes of 18-44 year olds living in Leeds – Shared Voice Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading deposit alternative provider flatfair has announced a major new partnership with Dandara Living, one of the UK’s leading independent property development firms and a renowned name in the Build to Rent sector. Dandara joins an impressive list of well-known players in the industry who are already using flatfair’s deposit platform, including Greystar, Native Residential and urbanbubble. With flatfair Deposits, residents have the option of flatfair’s popular deposit alternative alongside a traditional deposit. At a time when rental costs and therefore deposits, are reaching new highs month-on-month, thousands more residents now have the option to significantly reduce their upfront move-in costs. flatfair Deposits also saves agents and operators valuable time and improves their compliance by not having to manually register traditional deposits themselves. Gary Wright, CEO of flatfair, emphasises the company’s growing dominance in the Build to Rent sector as evidence that agents and operators are increasingly embracing flatfair’s deposit alternative, saying “We are delighted to be partnering with such a renowned name in the industry, and the growing popularity of flatfair Deposits, not just in the Build to Rent industry, is a mark of how beneficial and important our product is to all parties. Although deposit alternatives are still relatively new to the industry, agents and Build to Rent operators are increasingly recognising the multitude of benefits that our deposit platform offers. Providing a choice of deposit options to customers is now a necessity, reflecting the evolving needs of the market.” Sam Smith, Operations Director at Dandara Living said “We have been looking at the deposit alternative product offering for some time, and we have watched this product mature over the last few years and become a proven alternative that today’s renter wants to see. We are delighted to be partnering with flatfair on this new offering, and this further enhances our focus on the resident experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Half of tenants vacating a property last year had to do so because their landlord wanted to sell their property, according to a new survey. In the latest Rental Confidence Index report, published by PayProp – an automated rental payment and client accounting platform, ‘Landlords selling the property’ was cited by 50% of property professionals surveyed as the primary reason for tenants moving. By contrast, eviction was cited by just 11.3% of those surveyed. Tenant rights organisation Generation Rent has warned about the major impact of landlords selling up on homelessness. Sold properties lost to the PRS The survey also found that more than 54.5% of landlords were in the process of selling properties last year at the time of the survey. PayProp UK managing director Neil Cobbold said: “We know from our survey that the majority of homes sold by landlords (66.7%) are purchased by first time buyers. So, every time a landlord puts a house up for sale, it will generally be permanently lost to the Private Rented Sector (PRS). “These buyers are generally also the more well-off tenants who are best equipped to deal with the steep PRS price increases we are seeing. That loss of stock and well-financed tenants puts the PRS under pressure, with fewer homes to rent and lots of pent-up demand from less well-off tenants, which in turn can lead to higher rental prices as they compete for the remaining properties. “The question we should be asking is ‘Why are so many landlords selling properties?’” Feeling squeezed? “One reason may be the age of the average landlord, which according to the latest English Private Landlord Survey was 58 in 2021. By now, they may be thinking about retirement and taking the money they have invested in property as an annuity. “However, in other cases, a lack of profitability will be an issue. A number of factors – an absence of tax reform to address mortgage costs; higher buy-to-let mortgage rates; increased regulation: and the headlines around the abolition of Section 21 evictions – have all combined to make life uncomfortable for many landlords. “If this trend towards fewer PRS properties is going to be reversed, the Government has to find a way to keep landlords in the PRS and encourage more investors to join the sector. If not, supply will remain under pressure and rents will continue to rise, making life more difficult for tenants who are already feeling squeezed.” The government heralded their Renters (Reform) Bill as the most radical reform of the PRS in a generation, and it has dominated coverage in the trade press. Among its proposals are: After passing its Third Commons Reading last month, the proposed legislation has now progressed to the House of Lords. Expertise on hand from agents Given the scope of these changes to the PRS, it is not surprising that the vast majority of respondents (97.6%) were aware of them. There was also a significant drop in very negative sentiment about the current state of the industry (down 13.1% on 2022), perhaps because of the amendments to address the Bill’s perceived imbalance between the rights of the tenant and those of the landlord to gain repossession of their property. The largest group expressed a ‘neutral’ view (46.8%). However, with the upcoming changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill, the survey found that property professionals were a little more optimistic about the future of the PRS than in 2022. More than half (51.6%) felt either positive or very positive about the rental industry’s prospects. Even so, fewer respondents could see themselves working in the sector in five years’ time with 12.9% saying it was ‘unlikely’ or ‘very unlikely’. PayProp’s full Rental Confidence Index 2024 can be read here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals