Property Consulting

Change is coming on climate risk due diligence for property conveyancers

The question of whether  solicitors have a legal duty of care to advise their clients on climate-related risks is being posed on at The Conveyancing Climate Change Conference on 14 June in the Law Society Common Room. Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) is now a growing area of concern for partners and fee earners.  It’s not just about how you operate ethically either – in terms of their footprint and who they give advice to (that is, whether you are planet-friendly). It’s also about how you advise clients on the impact of climate change. The geo-environmental risks

Property Consulting

London’s house prices have risen across all boroughs to hit a new record high!

House prices have risen across all boroughs this month to hit another record high, with the average asking price now standing at £677,110. This has resulted in a year on year rise of over 6% and almost a 2% rise from last month. After 2 long years of dampened interest in properties there has been a reopening of offices and cultural attractions has tempted people into buying into the city again. _________________ Will you be investing?

Investment

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Acquires 5% Stake In Nintendo:

This now known to be Saudi Arabia's public investment fund's [PIF] biggest investments to date. PIF has acquired a 5.01% stake in Nintendo, stating that the move is for investment purposes. That stake makes it the fifth biggest shareholder of Nintendo. Saudi Arabia's PIF has been particularly active this year; in February it spent around $1 billion on stakes across two businesses. The bigger chunk was spent on 5% of Nexon, a Korean firm with hugely successful online games.  Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund also has high profile stakes in Activision Blizzard (pending t

Investment

Millionaires prioritise recycling over ethical investments when considering the environment:

UK pension funds are worth over £2.7tn, money which Coutts claims could be used to help invest in ethical and sustainable causes. Making changes to their portfolios however would be more beneficial and have a better impact to the planet. Britain’s millionaires do not realise they can make a far bigger difference to the planet with their investments and pensions than they can by sorting their recycling. ______________________________________ Do you invest ethically / know what ethical investments are?

Property Consulting

Renewed demand for London Properties:

The property demand in the capital is back in full flow showing little signs of slowing down in the near future. Despite, the annual house price incline being the highest in year, with a whopping 10.4% across the UK, there is a 'race for space' after the pandemic. The demand for space for hybrid working environments is now crucial and are encouraging buyers to seek the opportunities as they come. The supply issues will continue to fuel the market and increase the cost of living pressures on consumers. _______________________________ Will this be sustainable?

Investment

U.N. Chief calls for debt relief in West Africa.

The Post COVID investment trip made Antonio Guterres urged debt relief for African countries and more investment to help their economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and weather the impacts of the Ukraine war. Supply disruptions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine have caused simultaneous food, energy and finance crises in Africa and beyond, Guterres said. Public debt ratios in sub-Saharan Africa are at their highest in more than two decades, the IMF said last week. It was called on wealthy countries and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate donations of COVID-19 v

Property Consulting

What is a property developer’s major weapon?

A step up from regenerating houses or pre-existing live - in properties is when  you take a commercial building and convert it into residential. You create more homes than with a flip, but the fundamental principles are the same. The average flip produces profits of just under £50k, whereas a small conversion project is likely to net you between £150k and £500k, depending on its size and location. The budget for commercial flips will also be ten times the size. You can afford to hire a main contractor to take care of the construction rather than a jobbing builder. The 3 b

Investment

How to protect your investment portfolio against inflation.

For you to protect your investment against inflation there are many alternative investment plans. For example, in terms of tangible investments there are gold, art, wine, vintage cars and gemstones. However, these are long term. The reality of the value changing drastically day to day is unlikely and you are looking at small increments. The immediate profit is trading, however, these trades can be scary as there is fear that the markets will crash. This is why businesses and individuals should investigate investment options that have less correlation to the global economy

Property Consulting

House Prices and U.K.’s hotspots are revealed.

Bath has been named the biggest property hotspot across the UK, with increased competition pushing asking prices up by more than 15% over the last year. Across the top ten city hotpots, the average increase in asking prices is 12.6%, outpacing the current national average of 9.9%. Initially, the supply of homes available kept up with some of this surge in demand, steadying asking prices. Now there is a higher demand for places like Bath, Plymouth and Truro which has led to prices increasing majorly. Competition has more than doubled in Exeter over the last year (+110%), th

Investment

Threat of recession for the U.K. – investment will do the trick.

Soaring inflation rates in all sectors is causing a huge decline in customer spending power, due to a decrease in disposable wage. The double blow from slowing post-lockdown growth and rising living costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could result in a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) for two consecutive quarters, which is the definition of a recession. The return to lower rates of activity in the health sector after a winter rush to vaccinate people against Covid-19, as well as households reining in their spending amid the soaring cost of living, are also expecte