Section

Homes and Residential Property

Homes and Residential PropertyEngland and Wales

Stamp duty postcode divide: buyers in the South pay thousands more

New data reveals significant regional variations in stamp duty bills across England and Northern Ireland, with London and the South facing the highest costs for both first-time buyers and existing homeowners amid rising house prices.

3 September 2026

close up of a hand held open with keys to a house being dropped into them by another persons use normal bricks not the glazed green ones hand, used a mixed race hand and white hand - need to be front door key on it as well, and thgey need to be outside not inside the house

Homes and Residential PropertyEngland and Wales

First-time buyers' guide: navigating the evolving process to secure a home

A quick guide for first-time buyers breaking down the stages of purchasing a home, from budgeting and mortgage approval to legal transfers and moving in, amidst recent changes in the property market.

3 September 2026

Homes and Residential PropertyUK-wide

Buyers’ reluctance causing rising property chain collapses in UK market

A new survey reveals that nearly half of UK property sellers involved in chains experience a breakdown, primarily due to buyer hesitation, with potential delays of up to a year in completing sales.

3 September 2026