Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on a road to nowhere!

By Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR

If I had to do a specialist topic on mastermind it would be the journey from agreeing a sale, to getting that sstc to exchange. Labour once again has seized upon a populist topic and now will definitely do absolutely zero to execute it. Much like Deputy PM Ange who instead of talking to those in the know announced 300K of new homes a year for the lifetime of this Labour government (I doubt they will get a second term).

So here are some pointers, since 1985 I have been acutely interested in getting properties to exchange, first as a negotiator and then later as the owner of an agency I knew that until a sale was exchanged, I had earnt no money. So, of all stakeholders, I considered myself to be one of the most invested.

And this is point one – STAKEHOLDERS – every sale has lot of them, the selling agent/buyers/sellers/two sets of conveyancers/mortgage broker/mortgage lender/surveyor/insurance company/specialist report companies qualifying problems arising from enquiries or surveys, the list goes on, add maybe another three 3 sales to the chain and you have 50 ‘people’ involved. No wonder things take so long.

Point two – THE FIGURES DO NOT ADD UP – AS 1.2 MILLION PROPERTIES EXCHANGE ANNUALLY – despite a growing population, and more and more houses being built, say 190,000 a year for the past decade, the actual number of homes sold stays statice? In fact, in 1988, two-million properties were sold in one year (another Chancellor tinkering with property taxation) and the world was pre-digital, and the population was 57M. So why in 2024, with an extra seven million new homes having been built, and the population growing by thirteen million, do we have a decade of 1.2M exchanges each and every year? (As an average). Interestingly estate agents only account for 900K of the 1.2M exchanges a year, the others are sold without an agent

Point three – NO-ONE IS DRIVING THE BUS – a vendor may start as the client of an estate agent, but they then become the client of the mortgage broker/lender/surveyor and the client of the conveyancer/solicitor, with the conveyancer/solicitor having the whip hand as they are actually overseeing the transfer of title, and really are working for the lender, because the lender sues them if they get it wrong. Now this power vacuum with no ‘top’ person running the show – going back to our chain of four sales and 50 people, becomes a traffic jam of data, vested interests and often a dark hole where people in key positions of power are often not as on the ball or qualified as they should be.

Point four – THE BRAIN AND EXPERIENCE DRAIN – recently I bought for cash a vacant freehold property which was not in mortgage and had no issues, I did have searches but no survey, it took five weeks to get to exchange. And two days before exchanging my conveyancer told the other side I could not buy the property due to a problem; she then told me. I was livid, spoke to a senior partner and we exchanged two days later. On the other side of the matter was an equally inexperienced conveyancer. I find also that many surveyors lack the key insight, and skill sets that those longer in the game have, which makes for surveys which have so many caveats that they are more like a minefield than useful to an underwriter or a buyer.

Point five – LUDDITES – in all the stakeholder camps there are an awful lot of stale, pale male decision makers, blocking the digital transformation of the exchange process, their grandchildren are Gen-A, and will be 18 in 4 years, that is when the real change will begin, as they will not accept if Amazon can deliver in a smiling carboard box some designer roller skates the same day, you have to wait 28 weeks to move into your first home.
As to what Labour will add to the moving process, given the Renters’ Act will destroy the PRS and drive rents higher and make it impossible for some to even get a tenancy, my hope is they do absolutely – NOTHING – for the next four and a half years until they actually understand the realities of what an overhaul of the system would entail, maybe start with as new property Act, the last one came out exactly a century ago in 1925.

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The Guild of Property Professionals ‘Now That’s What I Call Estate Agency’ – Awards, excellence and industry insights  

The Guild of Property Professionals celebrated the exceptional achievements of its Members at its annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, held at the iconic QEII Centre in Westminster on 7 February 2025. Entitled ‘Now That’s What I Call Estate Agency,’ the event brought together property professionals from across the UK for a day of inspiration, learning, and recognition.

The conference, opened by Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild, provided Members with invaluable opportunities to connect, engage, and learn from industry experts. McKenzie highlighted 2024’s key achievements and offered insights into the evolving market landscape, saying: “This conference is all about equipping agents with the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to excel in 2025. With AI techniques and technology rapidly advancing, we are showcasing the strategies of the very best agents to inspire innovation and growth across the sector.”

The agenda featured thought-provoking presentations from prominent speakers, such as Paul Offley, Compliance Officer, Simon Leadbetter, Founder of Unchained Marketing, and David Abbott, internationally acclaimed pricing expert, who delivered actionable strategies for agencies to enhance revenue and performance through improved pricing practices.

The highlight of the day was the prestigious Guild Awards ceremony, where 84 Bronze, Silver, Gold, Overall and Special Awards were presented to Members in recognition of their outstanding contributions throughout 2024. The winners, listed below, were honoured for their dedication to exceptional customer service and their unwavering commitment to guiding clients through their home-moving journeys.

In addition to the usual regional and overall awards, this year The Guild commended one of their own, with a special Outstanding Contribution Award, presented to Paul Offley, Compliance Officer. McKenzie comments, “It is a great honour for me to present Paul with an Outstanding Achievement Award for 2025, he has been an incredible asset to our network for many years and continues to support our Members in remaining complaint and protected, putting them head and shoulders above the competition in what can ordinarily be a complicated minefield for the industry.”

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Fine & Country partners with Azizi Group to launch Burj Azizi – second tallest tower in the world

Fine & Country Dubai and Fine & Country Mayfair are proud to announce an exclusive partnership with renowned developers Azizi Group to launch Burj Azizi, a ground breaking architectural marvel set to redefine luxury living. Towering at an astonishing 725 meters, Burj Azizi will be the second tallest tower in the world, boasting an array of world-class amenities and setting multiple global records.

Scheduled for a global launch on 19 February 2025, Burj Azizi will be unveiled at eight prestigious hotels worldwide, including an exclusive event at The Dorchester in London. Following this, Fine & Country Dubai and Fine & Country Mayfair will host a dedicated showcase at the Park Lane office in Mayfair, London on 20 and 21 February, where investors can view the only physical model of the tower available in the UK and Europe.

Fahad Syed, CEO of Fine & Country Mayfair, commented: “We excited to announce the exclusive launch of Burj Azizi, a landmark development in Dubai, right here in the heart of London. This prestigious project exemplifies the epitome of luxury and innovation, setting new standard for opulent living and world-class design. It is not just a development, but a vision brought to life, where architectural brilliance meets elegance. With its exquisitely designed residences, state-of-the-art amenities panoramic views, Burj Azizi stands as a beacon of sophistication and modernity in Dubai’s skyline.”

Unparalleled luxury and world records

Burj Azizi is designed to be a soaring sanctuary above the city. The development will include:

• A 7-star luxury hotel
• The highest lobby in the world
• The highest occupied hotel room
• The highest cinema in the world
• The highest nightclub in the world
• The highest observation deck
• The highest spa
• The highest supermarket
• Exclusive residential homes

Residences within Burj Azizi start at approximately £2 million for a one-bedroom apartment, with pricing reaching up to £218 million for the largest penthouse – set to become the most expensive home in Dubai.

A prime opportunity for international investors  Commenting on the launch, Tillmann Kloss, CEO of Fine & Country Dubai, said: “Burj Azizi is an incredible opportunity for international investors to own a home in one of the world’s most prestigious buildings, within a rapidly growing Dubai property market. Buying a property within the development, also provides the benefit of golden visa opportunities.”

He adds that Dubai offers exceptional yields and returns, and with the market surpassing its 2014 peak, now is the perfect time to invest. The city’s expanding population, increasing global presence, and strong regulatory framework all point to a promising future for real estate investors.

Dubai continues to experience unprecedented growth, with 10,000 Emirates IDs issued daily across the UAE, half of which go to new residents. As interest rates remain competitive, both the secondary and off-plan markets are thriving, making this an ideal time to invest in prime developments like Burj Azizi.

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