UK Property

Unclaimed estates, or ownerless property, are passed into ownership of the Crown when a person dies. This happens when they pass without leaving a will and there are no apparent family members to claim the inheritance. In general, estates held on the list can be claimed within a 12-year deadline, from the date the estate was taken into possession of the Crown. If you're wondering if you might have a claim to an estate, then having a certain surname could help. The wills and probate solicitors at Beecham Peacock have sifted through...

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the UK property myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox.UK first-time buyers with mortgages bought homes further out of London in 2023 compared with 10 years earlier, underlining the affordability challenges of getting on the housing ladder in the capital. All local authorities in London, where the average house costs £549,000, registered a drop in first-time buyer mortgages per 1,000 dwellings between 2013 and 2023, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday. In the same period, the number of first-time...

Homebuyers across England who miss the March stamp duty deadline are in line for a silver lining: a decade-high selection of available properties this spring. According to the property website Rightmove, the number of homes on the market is now at its highest level for this time of year since 2015—offering greater choice and curbing house price inflation. House prices across the UK rose by 1.1 per cent in March, averaging £371,870, which is broadly in line with the typical springtime uptick. Sellers are said to be pricing more realistically...

A survey revealed the best places to live in England and Wales in 2024 - and the top 10 list was filled with stunning countryside locations, including a town in DerbyshireThe Torr Vale Viaduct at New Mills(Image: Getty)Brits are known for their love of holidays abroad, often seeking out sunnier climates and exotic landscapes.However, the UK is home to a wealth of stunning locations that are not only popular with tourists but also loved by those who live there. From Cornwall's sandy beaches to Wales' towering mountains, the Lake District's...

SIX fire crews from two fire services battled a blaze in the roof of a property near to Arley Hall.Firefighters were in attendance in Aston by Budworth at around 6.20pm on Sunday, March 16.A fire service spokesperson said six fire crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service battled a blaze in the roof of a property on Feldy Green Lane.After around an hour the huge emergency response was cut down to three fire crews as well as an aerial ladder platform which they...

United Kingdom prosecutors allege an officer working for the country’s National Crime Agency (NCA) stole 50 Bitcoin (BTC) back in 2017. The Crown Prosecution Services authorized Merseyside Police to charge NCA officer Paul Chowles with 11 counts of concealing, disguising, or converting criminal property, three counts of acquiring, using or possessing converting criminal property and a single count of theft. The 50 BTC was priced at £60,000 ($77,658) back in 2017 and is worth £3.26 million ($4.2 million) at time of writing. Chowles, 42, is set to appear at Liverpool...

The teams behind the country’s most exciting building projects are in competition for the British Construction and Property Awards. The final shortlist has been unveiled ahead of the May 15 gala event in Manchester hosted by Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway in partnership with the Sunday Express.Visionary developers, innovative contractors and trailblazing individuals have been nominated to receive the sought-after accolades. In the Residential Property Developer of the Year category, Step Places and Redwing are among the contenders, while Morgan Sindall, Sir Robert McAlpine, and Balfour Beatty battle it...

In this first video of a new series, I dive into the UK’s housing crisis—exploring rising prices, rental struggles, and their impact on communities. I also break down key policies, data trends, and potential solutions. Watch: The UK housing crisis explained The UK's housing crisis has deepened generational divides. Nearly 79% of over-65s own their home, compared to just 39% of 25-34-year-olds. Many young people are stuck renting, struggling to save for a deposit as rental costs continue to rise. The term Generation Rent highlights fears that homeownership is slipping...

Property platform Gazeal has achieved its first reservation agreement to feature an entire chain of buyers and sellers, following a deal set up via one its customer estate agents in Essex. While the company’s reservation agreements are used by many agents’ vendors and buyers including Hunters, until now agreements have been between pairs of vendors and buyers only. But for the first time ever a whole chain has signed up to one of its Chain Reservation Agreements, namely a first-time buyer and two upsizers, all buying or selling houses sourced...

The UK towns, cities and neighbourhoods with the highest property price increases outside London have been revealed. Analysis of median house prices shows that outside the capital increases were highest in Camberley Town, Surrey Heath.The latest figures show a percentage increase of 75.8% in Camberley Town, from £347,750 in March 2023 to £611,250 in March 2024. This was the highest increase outside London. According to an analysis by Online Marketing Surgery and BLG Development Finance, Central Solihull and Sharmans Cross saw the second highest increase. Here the median price soared...