The London housing market continues to display a lack of momentum in December, with dipped buyer interest, according to the December 2017 RICS UK Residential Market Survey.In December*, activity in the London housing market continued to drop, with 21 per cent more London respondents noting a decline in demand (as opposed to an increase) in the month of December, continuing an eight-month consecutive run of readings in negative territory. Furthermore, when contributors were asked (nationally) whether they have seen an increase in first time buyer enquiries following changes to Stamp Duty in the Autumn Budget, an overwhelming majority of 86 per cent across the UK as whole said they hadn’t. While this could be in part due to the time of year, respondents were also asked to consider the likely impact on the market over the coming months. Interestingly, while nationally, only 12 per cent felt it would result in higher overall activity, in London, 28 per cent said the changes … [Read more...] about New buyer interest drops in London
London
One in five Londoners expected to start their own business in 2018
New research released today reveals that more Brits than ever before want to start their own business in 2018. The survey of 1,000 working British people, carried out by award-winning cloud accounting software provider FreeAgent, found that 18 per cent of Londoners intend to start their own business within the year of 2018. With over 32 million people currently working in the UK, according to ONS statistics, that means 3.5 million (11 per cent) Brits are expected to become their own boss before the start of 2019. FreeAgent conducted a similar poll last year and found that, by contrast, 3.2 million workers were prepared to start their own companies in 2017. While 18 per cent of Londoners aim to become self-employed by the end of 2018, 14 per cent said they would like to work for themselves by the end of 2019, and 3 per centby the end of 2020. Two in ten (20 per cent) said they want to start their own business at some point, but don’t yet have any concrete plans to do so. … [Read more...] about One in five Londoners expected to start their own business in 2018
This Brexit-opposing millionaire plumber wants to replace ‘waste of time’ London mayor Sadiq Khan
LONDON – Charlie Mullins is the charismatic CEO of Pimlico Plumbers, who is probably best known for being one of the most vocal backers of those campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU. In 2016 he helped finance Gina Miller’s successful attempt to force the government to allow Parliament a vote on Brexit, famously turning up outside the High Court in his £300,000 Bentley. He was also previously a major donor to the Conservatives but has since abandoned the party over their policy on Brexit. He claims he was barred from the party’s Black and White fundraising ball last year due to his criticism of Theresa May. “I wanted to stay in the EU and we have had a slight fallout with Theresa. We’re definitely not drinking from the same teapot,” he told Business Insider on Tuesday. We had a slight fallout with Theresa. We’re definitely not drinking from the same teapot. Now Mullins has set himself a new challenge, which is to become the next … [Read more...] about This Brexit-opposing millionaire plumber wants to replace ‘waste of time’ London mayor Sadiq Khan
Wanda billionaire extends selloff with London luxury project
[LONDON] Billionaire Wang Jianlin agreed to sell one of the largest luxury residential projects under development in London as his Dalian Wanda Group continues to shed assets acquired in a spree that once made the founder China's richest man.Two of the company's units sold their interests in the One Nine Elms project on the south bank of London's River Thames for about £59 million ($107.5 million), according to a filing late on Tuesday in Hong Kong. Guangzhou R&F Properties, is the buyer, according to two people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information.The sale of a project billed as worth £700 million at completion adds to more than US$9 billion worth of disposals over the past 12 months as the real estate-to-entertainment group responds to government pressure to pare debt and focus overseas investments on assets considered strategically important to China.Mr Wang's Wanda Hotel Development said in November that it … [Read more...] about Wanda billionaire extends selloff with London luxury project
London to be battered with snow, hail and high winds
Temperatures are set to plummet across Britain over the next few days, with the Met issuing a yellow warning for snow, hail and high winds for London and the South East.Forecaster Emma Sharples told the Standard that wintry showers are expected to batter areas of high ground surrounding the capital all day and into Wednesday.The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for wind in London for tomorrow and Thursday.“Showers are falling as sleet, snow and hail already in the north of the warning area, and this threat spreads to parts of Wales, the Midlands and southern England on Tuesday evening and overnight into Wednesday,” the forecasting service told media.“The warning has been extended further south and east to cover small amounts of snow, for example in parts of southern England. Delays to travel are possible, with a lower likelihood of cancellations of public transport. Some roads and pavements will turn icy, with an increased likelihood of some accidents and … [Read more...] about London to be battered with snow, hail and high winds