A Surprisingly Active Winter Market While many assume December is quiet, the SW London market continues to move steadily.Motivated buyers, soft seasonal pricing, and strong rental demand create distinct opportunities — whether you’re selling, buying or letting this month. Winter Buyer Behaviour: More Serious, Less Browsing Unlike spring, December buyers
Rate backdrop (quick facts) Bank Rate: 4%; BoE to update again on 6 Nov (this week). (bankofengland.co.uk) Lenders have been edging pricing down through autumn as inflation cools; averages around ~5% for mainstream 2- and 5-yr fixes have been common in recent months. (Direction varies by lender/product.) (Zoopla) Your decision
Why November works Stock is up vs last year but pricing is measured—good homes still move fast when launched right (Rightmove shows October asking prices +0.3% MoM with activity above 2024). (rightmove.co.uk) Your 3-week Sharpes plan Week 1 (Prep & Positioning) Street-level comps + buyer heatmap; light staging (kerb appeal,
The snapshot (fast facts) House prices: Nationwide says +0.3% MoM in Oct; +2.4% YoY—stable and edging higher. (nationwide.co.uk) Asking prices: Rightmove’s October index shows £371,422, +0.3% MoM, -0.1% YoY; activity YTD still up vs 2024. (rightmove.co.uk) Base rate: 4% today; next MPC decision Thursday, 6 November 2025. (bankofengland.co.uk) Rents: ONS:
Why pricing right matters Homes priced correctly from day one sell ~3x faster than those that need reductions (32 days vs 99). Translation: less stress, stronger offers. (Rightmove) Your 30-Day Sharpes Plan Week 1: Prep & Positioning Data-driven valuation (street-level comps, buyer demand heatmap). Light staging checklist: kerb appeal, paint
EPC Timeline at a Glance Year Regulation Status 15 Jun 2025 RdSAP 10 methodology overhaul—more detailed assessments (may raise/lower ratings). (propertymark.co.uk) Confirmed 2025 (New Lets) Proposed Band C minimum for new tenancies. (ecoenergyservices.co.uk) Likely 2028‑30 Band C for all rentals; Warm Homes Plan consultations ongoing. (Simply Business UK, GOV.UK) In review Cost of Inaction Failure to
1️⃣ Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (5 % Deposits) Re‑launched in July’s Spending Review and extended to Dec 2026—95 % LTV on homes up to £600k. (The Sun) 2️⃣ First Homes (30‑50 % Discounts) Local first‑time buyers & key workers get lifetime discounts on selected new‑builds. (Zoopla) 3️⃣ Deposit Unlock (5 % on New‑Builds) Home‑builder scheme pairing 95 % mortgages with selected developments. (Find IFAs &
What’s Happening? Record July slide: Average UK asking prices fell ‑1.2 % to £373,709—London down ‑1.5 % (‑2.1 % in Inner London), the biggest July drop since 2002. (Rightmove, The Guardian) Buyer activity up: Sales agreed are 5 % higher year‑on‑year despite lower prices. (Reuters) Rate‑cut buzz: Markets price in a high chance the
Property maintenance isn’t just about keeping tenants happy—it’s about protecting your investment. At Sharpes Estates, we’ve helped hundreds of landlords steer clear of costly repair headaches. Here are the top 5 maintenance issues we see time and time again—and how you can avoid them. 1. Hidden Mould and Damp Especially
In the ever-changing world of property, one question keeps coming up in 2025: Is now the time to sell—or should I let my property instead? The UK housing market is showing signs of stability, with asking prices dipping slightly and mortgage approvals increasing. But that doesn’t mean every property owner
