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Commercial property news and commentary, written for occupiers.

Celebrity property feuds: from Robbie Williams' fungus war to the Beckhams' wine cellar battle

Robbie Williams is arguing with his neighbours again, and it seems it keeps on happening with celebrities...and the rest of us for that matter

Love Actually mews house listed to rent for £15,200 a month

The house is on St Luke’s Mews, where Mark Andrew Lincoln makes his famous declaration of love to Juliet Kiera Knightley in Richard Curtis’ film

Home buyers more ‘price sensitive' since Autumn Budget despite focus on stamp duty deadline

A sizable pipeline of sales will complete in the first half of 2025, with buyers hoping to avoid higher stamp duty costs from April

Most expensive streets to live in UK: homes on priciest London street cost 60 times national average

The country’s 10 most expensive streets are all in the capital and have an average price tag of £16.5 million

Where are the UK's most expensive streets in 2024? That'll be London

The country’s 10 most expensive streets are all in the capital and have an average price tag of £16.5 million

Instant design classic: Barnsbury penthouse is an oasis of calm with pops of colour

Now this is a way to bring some peace and tranquility to your home...

Do you expect me to talk? No, I expect you to enjoy this Goldfinger design

The Burlington Arcade in Mayfair has unveiled a spectacular bar to enjoy this Christmas

London Leaver: "I thought I would die in London but I'm completely happy in Winchester"

Emma McCaffrey has found a completely new way of life outside the capital

Water watch: five simple ways to conserve water after increase to household bills announced

Water bills are set to rise by 36% in the next five years in England and Wales

Interest rates held: which type of mortgage will suit you now?

Five types of mortgage loan you should know about as the base rate of interest is cut to 4.75 per cent

Water watch: five simple ways to conserve water after increase to household bills announced

Water bills are set to rise by 36% in the next five years in England and Wales

At home with TV presenter Louise Roe — and why she swapped Bucks for London

The interiors goddess and TV presenter’s city home is a paean to cosy Englishness

House prices, stamp duty and moving costs see Londoners stay in homes far longer than UK average

Rising costs and ‘marathon mortgages’ are also among reasons why London homeowners delay moves

See inside the most viewed homes on the London property market

From a Bond-style lair to a party penthouse, these are the properties we lusted after this year

A third of flatmates have had to move out due to sleep disturbances

New research reveals that the average flatsharer is losing 218 hours and 24 minutes of sleep a year due to noise disruption

House price growth accelerates as London rents reach record highs

The figures were released on the day the ONS said Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 2.6 per cent in November

London renters: 'I'm paying part of my friend's mortgage but there are huge benefits'

Untapped potential? Almost half of London properties have a spare room

Average home value drops £6,395 in month to December

Housing market activity remains substantially stronger than a year ago, paving the way for a ‘Boxing day bounce’

Christmas by design: interiors gift ideas from top London designers

Christmas ideas from London’s top interiors names

The most unusual property sales of 2024 — from a mysterious London cottage to a nuclear bunker

There were no shortage of wacky properties to hit the market this year, including nuclear bunkers, a studio with a cell and a replica of the HMS Endeavour

Pre-batch the cocktails & skip the starters: How to host a chic Christmas party in your tiny London flat

What your flat lacks in square footage you can make up for in vibes. Some of London’s chicest hosts tell us how...

London Leaver: "The fresh air in Chester has really improved my life"

Rachael Kinsella left their maisonette in Teddington for a new life in the North

Grade I listed former orangery converted by Sir John Soane on sale for £500k

This unique Music Room was designed by the architect behind the Bank of England

2024's most unusual property sales - from a remote lighthouse keeper's building to two Kensington rooftops

There were no shortage of wacky properties to hit the market this year, including nuclear bunkers, a studio with a cell and a replica of the HMS Endeavour

Christmas by design: interiors gift ideas from the experts

Christmas ideas from London’s top interiors names

What is grey belt land and what is the green belt? Sir Keir Starmer announces plan to transform house building

‘Builders and not blockers’ approach for government in house-building push

Decorating tips from top designers for the chicest festive hosting

Clever creative ideas for decorating your home for Christmas hosting

Brownfield sites alone cannot solve London's worsening housing crisis

We have under-built for a very long time - London hasn’t built 80,000 homes in any year since the Second World War.

Nick Candy's luxury property empire: from his Knightsbridge penthouse to his LA mansion

The newly-appointed Reform UK treasurer owns properties worth hundreds of millions across London

The secrets of selling London's £40m homes: inside the world of ultra high-end property deals

Armed security, NDAs and a dog with a nose for property. We ask London’s super-prime property agents for the secrets to selling the capital’s most expensive homes

Property market 2025: new forecast predicts price growth resurgence across London and UK

Rightmove's 2025 housing market forecast predicts a price uplift of average asking prices for the capital

Christmas gift guide: from candles to ercol classics — here's our pick of the best buys for design fans

Home accessories and chic design buys sure to impress the most discerning hosts

London lodgers: 'I'm paying part of my friend's mortgage but there are huge benefits'

Untapped potential? Almost half of London properties have a spare room

'Shocking': rents have risen £3,240 on average since the pandemic

A new report from Zoopla has shown a steep rise in rents since 2021

Why one TV and film costume designer left London for a 'rough around the edges' seaside town

Thomas Von Nordheim left London for Kent and has found thriving arts and foodie scenes

Mortgages: Jump in average fixed-rate mortgages recorded in December

Lenders will need to grapple with future uncertainty surrounding interest-rate pricing while aiming to hit any year-end targets

Interiors queen Matilda Goad's chic London home is a masterclass in trial and error

Matilda Goad shows us around her stylish family home — and explains why every space needs to feel a little bit ‘off’

Iconic furniture from The Savoy Hotel to go to auction — with prices from £5

The iconic hotel is auctioning off hundreds of pieces of furniture on Wednesday and Thursday this week

Striking and unique family eco home in Belsize Park on sale for £3.9m

This dazzling property is the dream for a family, or anyone who loves natural light and high energy performance

Would you live in a former Victorian reservoir? For £1.25m you can

This one-of-a-kind property in The Pennines once supplied water to local villages

Vol-au-vents, Viennetta and VHS tapes: Fancy a 1980s Christmas in Clapham?

Booking.com is giving you the chance to indulge your festive nostalgia this Christmas

Last piano factory in London up for sale at auction

This historic family-owned factory could now be yours

Over a third of landlords raise rent by 15 per cent for new tenancies

Renter groups are calling out landlords after new government figures are released

What Keir Starmer's 'Golden era for building' means for London

Keir Starmer is taking on nimbys and environmentalists with ambitious plans... but how will this practically play out in the capital?

Average UK house price reached new record high of £298,083 in November

Property values increased for the fifth month in a row in November, the bank said.

Savoy fair: luxurious furniture from the iconic hotel to be auctioned

The iconic hotel is auctioning off hundreds of pieces of furniture — all starting at £5

Matilda Goad: 'I love the sense of community in Kensal Green'

Designer Matilda Goad shows us around her beautifully stylish family home

Former Angel studio of Walter Sickert with new Nicky Haslam interiors on sale for £3.95m

This impressive house on Regent’s Canal carries some serious art history but has been refurbished in super-stylish fashion

Where to buy in London: the hottest regeneration zones on the up

These unfashionable areas are going to be transformed in the next 15 years

Britain’s ‘happiest places to live’ in 2024 revealed

Gen-Zs were the most likely to feel they would be happier living somewhere else, while those aged 55-plus were the least likely, Rightmove said.

Move over Richmond! London borough is no longer 'Britain's happiest place to live'

A historical market town in Suffolk has supplanted Richmond as the happiest place to live in Great Britain

Nearly a fifth of homeowners ‘have made an offer on a property while in a pub’

More than a third of people surveyed for Zoopla said they would not put in an offer for a home if it was situated too far away from a pub.

Cheers to that: 40 per cent of London homeowners say local pub influenced their property choice

A surprising number of surveyed homeowners put an offer while sitting at their future local

LAT winter? Why London couples are now Living Apart Together

Having their own separate flats suits Rachael Partleton and Steven Wingrove perfectly

Ed Sheeran's property portfolio: from Notting Hill to 'Sheeranville', here's where the singer calls home

With nearly 30 homes in London alone, here are the prime neighbourhoods where Ed Sheeran has snapped up property

‘Surprise’ house price jump in November as average values sit just 1 per cent below peak

Property values rose by the biggest monthly and annual levels seen since 2022, Nationwide Building Society said

Homes at London's most expensive luxury development will start at £35 million

Despite the eye-watering prices there are already 600 potential buyers on a waiting list

Renovated Isle of Dogs pub with Manhattan loft-style 'wow' factor on sale for £1.5m

The former Cubitt Arms has undergone a spectacular innovation

London leaver: 'Honestly, life is just better in Madrid'

Michael Pope says he’s never looked back after ditching his successful but unexciting life in London

Jurgen Klopp's former home and Rightmove's other most viewed homes of the year

We all love a good Righmove binge, and here are the homes most people checked out in 2024

Empire of Posh: inside Jacob Rees-Mogg's property portfolio

The splendid homes of the reality TV star from ‘Meet the Rees-Moggs’

Buying a home in London just got cheaper as wages rise and house prices stall

But interest rate cut optimism is dangerous and deposits requirements still insurmountable for many

My Home with Earl of East: "We like the neighbourhood feel of Leyton"

The duo behind the fragrance brand have made a Leyton new-build their sanctuary

Kate Bush's former Berkshire mansion for sale for £11.5 million

The ‘Running Up That Hill’ singer bought the property in the mid-1990s and lived there until 2011

Kate Bush's former Berkshire mansion for sale for £11.5 million

The “Running Up That Hill” singer bought the property in the mid-1990s and lived there until 2011

Moving home in London now costs over £30,000 – and this is before the Stamp Duty rise

New research shows the heavy cost to Londoners who are buying and selling properties, and this is before Stamp Duty bills rise next April

Sir Rod Stewart's former Essex mansion is up for sale for more than double the price he sold it for

The six-bedroom home has been put up for sale by former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll and wife Billi Mucklow amid their divorce

Winterproofing: clever interiors upgrades that will cut energy bills — to suit every budget

Temperatures are heading in a downward direction, while bills are only going up, up, up. Welcome to winter 2024.

Berkeley Square apartment at site of Winston Churchill's first London home goes on market for £6.5 million

The 1,859 sq ft apartment is on the third floor of the Portland stone town house, the only surviving residential building on one of London’s most famous squares.

Apartment within 'Arcadian' historical house in Hampton Court on sale for 1.2m

A beautiful residence that was once the home of David Garrick is now on the market

London Leaver: "Kent is so nice, there was too much crime in Croydon"

When Soniya and Olabasi became parents, they decided they wanted to head somewhere a little bit safer

Dogs are not just for home-owners: why we need more pet-friendly rental homes

Ahead of World Pet Day, one dog-lover tells about finally finding a rental home that is perfect for her furry friends...

Looming stamp duty changes ‘could hold back house price growth in 2025’

Homebuyers will want increased stamp duty costs reflected in the price they pay for a property, new research says

Eight of the best project homes on the market now – all under the new London average of £526k

These tired homes and time capsules come with attractive price tags –just the thing for those with the renovation itch

Two-thirds of neurodivergent people 'give up' trying to buy homes

A new guide aims to help estate agents make adjustments to better support neurodivergent buyers and sellers...

Matthew Williamson on the dramatic styling and glam party past of his Belsize Park home

The designer’s Belsize Park flat is a grand canvas for his ever-changing colour palette

'Devastating': decision to remove Chelsea mega-boats overturned in blow to houseboat residents

Houseboat residents feel that they are being evicted to make space for further mega-boats

London rents set to increase by 14 per cent over next five years

Nationally, UK rents are set to rise by 18 per cent as rental growth continues to outstrip income growth

Average cost of a London home drops by 0.5 per cent while UK price growth is on the rise

Experts warn that Wednesday’s jump in inflation could bring further headaches for mortgage borrowers

Why I live in Muswell Hill: Iraina Mancini on her peaceful neighbourhood with 'beautiful old pubs'

Musician and DJ Iraina Mancini moved to Muswell Hill for love, but it turned out to be the perfect antidote to late nights on stage

Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's former City home on sale for £6m

This secret warehouse conversion in the City has an illustrious past, featuring film-makers and the Pet Shop Boys

Barely room for a broom: tiny flat in former caretaker's cupboard for sale in Kensington

One window, a mezzanine bed and not enough room to swing a cat. Is this studio’s prime location enough to tempt a buyer?

Average price tag on a home falls by more than £5,000 in November

Rightmove expects to see a ‘stronger year for prices’ in 2025.

Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's former City home on sale for £6m

This secret warehouse conversion in the City has an illustrious past, featuring film-makers and the Pet Shop Boys

London Leaver: 'I was wrong when I thought there would be no creative spirits outside the M25'

Helen Croydon never though she would live outside of London, but the coast has proved to be an equally creative place

Knight Dragon appoints P-THREE as leasing agent for Greenwich Peninsula

P-THREE's main focus will be on enhancing the area’s retail, restaurant and leisure mix. The post Knight Dragon appoints P-THREE as leasing agent for Greenwich Peninsula appeared first on Property Week.

Feldberg secures 57,500 sq ft double letting at Putney office scheme

The rent secured on the deals is believed to be in the late £50/sq ft range, rising to £60/sq ft on some floors. The post Feldberg secures 57,500 sq ft double letting at Putney office scheme appeared first on Property Week.

Southwark Council housing starts fall 96% year on year

The number of construction starts for new council homes in Southwark, south London, has fallen by 96% year on year, according to the Southwark Liberal Democrats (SLD). The post Southwark Council housing starts fall 96% year on year appeared first on Property Week.

ASK lends £11.7m for residential redevelopment site in Cricklewood

Specialist property lender ASK Partners has provided an £11.7m loan to property investment and development company Ziser London. The post ASK lends £11.7m for residential redevelopment site in Cricklewood appeared first on Property Week.

Khan says RRB failure is ‘huge betrayal’ as no-fault evictions soar

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has criticised the government for failing to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions after the number of notices handed out increased by more than half. The post Khan says RRB failure is ‘huge betrayal’ as no-fault evictions soar appeared first on Property Week.

A £140m mixed-use redevelopment opportunity in London hits the market

Camberwell Quarter, a mixed-use redevelopment opportunity with an estimated gross development value of £140m, has been put on the market by Savills. The post A £140m mixed-use redevelopment opportunity in London hits the market appeared first on Property Week.

Capilon buys vacant Paddington hotel site for 80-room scheme

The deal was facilitated by a £19.5m co-loan from OakNorth and real ASK Partners. The post Capilon buys vacant Paddington hotel site for 80-room scheme appeared first on Property Week.

Latest appeal stats show business rates appeals system creaking under pressure and lack of resource at the VOA

According to government statistics, in the first sixth months of the new 2023 list 1st April to 30th September 2023, 30,950 checks the first part of the appeal process were…

Government Pledges £13.6 Billion Business Rates Relief Package in Autumn Statement

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a surprise package worth £13.6 billion to help business rates payers in today's Autumn Statement. The government said it remained committed to…

Settling a tenant dilapidations claim with just a building surveyor - is this the best strategy?

The key reason why any tenant settling a dilapidations claim using just a Building Surveyor BS, will be paying out over the odds. Almost all commercial & leisure properties vacated…

A Guide to Your Office Fit-Out

Understanding the Different Categories, Potential Costs and Process. You’ve found the ideal office space — it’s in the perfect location, has ideal facilities and is exactly the right size for…

Your Guide to South Bank Hidden Gems

The South Bank is where tourists and Londoners alike gravitate when they want to feel like they’re in the heart of things. Cultural landmarks line the bank like the National…

Farmer J to open fifth outlet in West End

Health-conscious fast-food chain Farmer J has taken a 2,300 sq ft unit at 319 Regent Street, one of the former sites of the collapsed EAT chain, Property Week can reveal. The post Farmer J to open fifth outlet in West End appeared first on Property Week.

NHS Property Services Relocates Offices Hub From City to Canary Wharf as Part of "Smarter Working" Drive

NHS Property Services has agreed to move its headquarters from the City of London to Canary Wharf. NHSPS is moving from 99 Gresham Street in the City to the 10…

Government Extinguishes COVID-19-Impact Business Rates Appeal Hopes

As Tax Day Approaches UK Businesses in Limbo as VOA Declines to Negotiate over Largest Number of Material Change of Circumstances Business Rates Appeals in History Hundreds of thousands of…

London's Office Market Reinvention: A Look at the Future for the Capital's Offices

London’s vibrant office market is undergoing a sweeping reinvention. In the short term, the ongoing evolution of the pandemic and, to a lesser extent, remaining UK-EU negotiations represent risks to…

Budget 2021: Business Rates Holiday Extended

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said the 100% business rates holiday in England, a tax cut worth £10bn so far, will be extended. The 100% business rates holiday in…

The Dilapidations Disconnect

In this Pandemic world, dilapidations claims are rising sharply in number, and will continue to do so, as more lease expiries and break options turn into exits, than lease renewals.…

London Bridge Quarter, Outstanding Property Opportunity, Premier Office space, Plug and Play, 30,919 SQ FT

3 London Bridge Street is the opportunity you have been waiting for. A chance to occupy best in class fitted space in the jewel of London’s architectural landscape. Come and…

Office leasing guide: Southbank, London

Central London’s south riverbank is home to plenty of the capital’s most exciting centres of culture, history and arts. As a result, Southbank is a great place for businesses, particularly…

Outside seating doubled at Wembley Park

The alfresco dining provision throughout Wembley Park is to be more than doubled. The post Outside seating doubled at Wembley Park appeared first on Property Week.

ST JOHNS INNOVATION PARK, CAMBRIDGE

18,793 sqft 1,745.9 sqm Open plan floor plates providing flexible accommodation New lease subject to negotiation Open plan floor plates providing flexible accommodation 53 Car Parking Spaces Existing data centre/telco…

ASK-RE CHRISTMAS 2015

New Project Office in the West End?

OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE HIGH QUALITY FITTED SPACE IN W1 Sublease to 23 April 2017 or Assignment of Lease 5th Floor, South Wing Size: 3,192sq ft 296.50 sq m Plug &…

DEALS DONE!

Having negotiated the acquisition of 46,000sq ft of new offices at the News Building Baby Shard, London Bridge for Q1 2016, Ask-re were instructed to 'ship out' 3 floors of…

LONDON SOUTH BANK RENTS CATCH UP TO THE CITY

Just as we predicted back in the Autumn of 2014, office rents all across the South Bank have risen dramatically, nearing those of the City for the first time. This…

CoStar Agency Awards 2015

2015 has been a busy year at ask-re, with many excellent results achieved for our clients. As a ‘one-stop-shop’ for any and all their property needs, we didn’t consider ‘agency’…

Revaluation 2017

You may have seen our recent news items about Business Rates – a property tax we have specialised in for many years to make substantial savings for clients. With the…

Business Rates Bills to Lift in 2016

"Businesses across England and Wales are set to see their business rates bills rise next year, following publication of new official figures, experts have warned. Ratepayers will pay up to…

MLEMEKA Primary School

NO BUSINESS RATES APPEAL REQUIRED? We have had many school clients over the years including our current clients, the London School of English, College of North-East London as well as…

Back To The Future - Part II

So... WOW and LOL! Back to 1990 in a flash, by George! Business Rates will be transformed in 2017 if the Chancellor’s proposals go through as indicated. Local authorities will…

SEXYFISH

"Spectacular aquatic-themed artworks by Damien Hirst and Los Angeles “starchitect” Frank Gehry are being installed at the opulent seafood brasserie opening in the heart of Mayfair later this month. Restaurant…

Back To The Future, Marty!

BUSINESS RATES GO BACK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES CONTROL The Chancellor has decided to give local authorities complete control over business rates in a return to the pre-1990 system. As a…

CURRENT - 35 Portman Square, W1

OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE HIGH QUALITY FITTED SPACE IN W1Sublease to 23 April 2017 or Assignment of Lease 5th Floor, South Wing Size: 3,192sq ft 296.50 sq m Plug & Play…

UNDER OFFER!

SORRY, BUT WE DID WARN YOU...!

SORRY, BUT WE DID WARN YOU...! In Autumn 2014, we flagged up strong office rents growth in the major London markets, including a resurgent South Bank. Click here to view…

THE IVY

"HURRAH, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TABLE! Ah… The Ivy. How to write about it without invoking a splutter of fin-de-siècle Brutishness, in all its tortured spasms of saucer-eyed anxiety,…

ANNABEL'S

"ANNABEL'S HAS £1.2m HANGOVER FROM 50th BIRTHDAY BASHES ANNABEL’S, the Mayfair members club and celebrity haunt, spent £1.2m on a week of glamorous celebrations to mark it’s 50th anniversary, recent…

TWO DO NOT BECOME ONE...

SUPREME COURT DECISION SPICES UP ARCANE BUSINESS RATES RULE The Supreme Court has made a landmark decision on business rates assessments for companies occupying multiple but unconnected floors in a…

LOTTO TICKETS ARRIVE - NOT GOOD NEWS!

LOTTO TICKETS ARRIVE - NOT GOOD NEWS! Got one of these recently? If not you soon will have... and obviously its a different kind of lotto! The Valuation Office is…

MARY'S MEALS...

Help us, Help Mary's Meals... As you maybe aware Mary’s Meals was Ask-re's Charity of the year for 2014 and we have decided to extend that through to 2015. By…

LONDON SOUTHBANK

OFFICE LETTING MARKET AUTUMN 2014 This is a summary of our findings of the current London Southbank office lettings market, as a simplistic guide for clients facing relocations of premises,…

ASK-RE RELOCATION - Back To The Future

We send you our best wishes for New Year 2016 and for your happiness and prosperity, personally and in business. We are pleased to announce that we have relocated not…

Vacant Commercial Properties On The Rise

Vacant Commercial Properties On The Rise Friday, July 31, 2009 Property industry marks increase in the rate of empty shops. By Jenifer Courtney The volume of vacant retail space on…

London Mayor Reveals Low-Carbon Plans For The Capital

London Mayor Reveals Low-Carbon Plans For The Capital Tuesday, August 04, 2009 Green planning and development proposals for London announced. By Jenifer Courtney Boris Johnson has announced plans for a…

Decreased Property Values Not That Significant

Decreased Property Values Not That Significant Monday, August 10, 2009 UK property downturn is relative to other asset types, expert suggests. By Jenifer Courtney The property crash of the past…

RICS Agrees To Climate Change Action Plan

RICS Agrees To Climate Change Action Plan Friday, September 25, 2009 RICS backs sustainable property markets target. By Jenifer Courtney The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS has signed the…