Category: Press

Political Uncertainty Can Be a Buyer’s Advantage

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

With Andy Burnham tipped for Number 10, property market uncertainty is rising, Maya Wilson Autzen reports in The Telegraph. But as Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, shares in the article, for savvy buyers opportunity may be knocking.

With Andy Burnham’s anticipated arrival in Downing Street, the property market is already feeling the effects. The likely new Prime Minister’s long-standing advocacy for a controversial land value tax is raising serious questions about the future of property taxation – and the savviest buyers are taking note.

Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, speaks to Maya Wilson Autzen at The Telegraph on the market shifts he’s witnessing firsthand, and how buyers can turn this moment of political uncertainty to their advantage at the negotiating table.

Read the article here.

Is Your Home Tech Spying on You?

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

As more and more of us install smart, connected gadgets in our homes, are we actually making ourselves vulnerable to security breaches from our own tech, asks David Byers in The Times. Our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds region Harry Gladwin shares his insights.

Small, white wireless security camera sits on a wooden table, actively monitoring a blurred, comfortable living room, ensuring safety and peace of mind

The home tech industry has grown significantly in recent years and is projected to be worth almost $140 billion by 2032, the research firm MarketsandMarkets says, with people buying wifi-connected vacuums, ovens, doorbells, garden lights – and even internet-connected wine coolers, reports David Byers for The Times.

But is an over-reliance on tech the modern equivalent of leaving the front door unlocked? “We are seeing a distinct shift in preference among prime buyers who are increasingly concerned about the digital vulnerabilities of fully automated homes,” Harry Gladwin says in the piece.

Read the article here.

Buying in the Cotswolds? Call Harry Gladwin

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

With series two of Rivals shining the spotlight on the Cotswolds once again, Lucy Clayton reports for the Financial Times on the region’s specialist agents to know when buying a home here. Our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds Harry Gladwin is one of them.

Cotswold cottage in the popular tourist destination of Bibury, Gloucestershire, England.

The Cotswolds remains one of England’s most coveted regions, drawing international buyers and fierce local competition in equal measure. As a result, Lucy Clayton writes in the Financial Times, buying here has become “a complex dance.”

With the most sought-after properties off-market and unsold for generations, the right buying agent isn’t a luxury – it’s essential. “Access is only guaranteed by an extraordinary reputation for trust and discretion – with or without an NDA,” says our Partner Harry Gladwin, as the FT collates the Who’s Who of the Cotswold’s finest specialist agents.

Read the article here.

Would You Move to Pay for Private School Fees?

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

To pay for private school fees, growing numbers of families are rethinking where they live rather than compromise on their children’s education, reports Alexandra Goss in The Telegraph. It’s a trend that our Cotswolds buying agent Georgina Neil is seeing first hand, as she highlights in the article.

Sarah Frances Kelley Cotswold manor house The Buying Solution
Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

Rising school fees, following the addition of VAT, are redefining property decisions – especially above £1.2m, reports Alexandra Goss in The Telegraph.

“The dream is over for many ‘upsizers’ as school fees and the cost of running these homes – and the transactional costs of buying them in the first place – have become prohibitive for many,” our Cotswolds buying agent Georgina Neil comments in the article.

Read the article in full here.

Old Barns, New Profits: Why Farmers are Embracing Padel

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

With the rapid rise of padel across the UK, agricultural landowners are finding innovative ways to generate income – including converting redundant barns into high-demand sports facilities, reports Cathy Hawker in the Financial Times, with insight from Harry Gladwin.

Many farmers are facing sustained pressure on margins, as our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds Harry Gladwin highlights in the Financial Times. Repurposing underused buildings – whether for padel courts or other commercial uses – offers a practical way to create supplementary income while preserving the integrity of rural estates.

Examples such as Padel X at Todenham Manor Farm near Moreton-in-Marsh, Punk Padel at Grammarsham Farm near Basingstoke and The Padel Farm York are leading the way.

“Most farmers would prefer to focus purely on farming but margins have been compressed for some time,” Harry says in the report. “For estates with redundant or underused buildings, repurposing them for alternative uses — whether that’s padel courts, car storage, cafés or gyms — can provide meaningful supplementary income without materially changing the character of the holding.”

Read the full article here.

The A to Z of the UK Property Market 2026

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

The UK property market is evolving fast, shaped by shifting buyer priorities, new hotspots and changing lifestyles. House & Garden magazine’s A–Z guide decodes the key trends, challenges and innovations defining property across the UK today, with insight from our Partner Mark Lawson.

From emerging commuter towns to renovation trends and the rise of multi-generational living, today’s property landscape blends financial strategy with emotional decision-making.

Our Partner and specialist in the Southern Counties and High Value Residential and Rural Estates, Mark Lawson, joins other leading industry experts in House & Garden discussing how to navigate buying, selling and renting in 2026, while uncovering value-adding opportunities.

Mark is quoted under U for “Unconventional Buildings”, commenting on Britain’s tradition of living in buildings never intended to be homes.

Read the article here.

Britons Fleeing Dubai for London Rentals

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Britons who settled in Dubai attracted by its perceived safety are contacting luxury property agents to arrange emergency £5,000-a-week rentals in London, writes David Byers in The Times. Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, shares his insights.

Large pink blossom tree next to white period houses in London's Notting Hill

As property agents report at 15% increase in enquiries from the UAE, Britons who relocated to Dubai are anxious to return to the UK, reports David Byers in The Times. Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, and currently acting on behalf of three Dubai-based clients, offers his observations.

Read the article here.

The Return of Service Bells

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Once an integral part of the orderly running of a stately home, service bells fell out of use with the dawn of modern technology. But as our Partner Mark Lawson shares with Lucy Clayton in the Financial Times, these once anachronistic artefacts are enjoying a revival.

From summoning a breakfast tray to requesting a nightcap, service bells have been used since the mid-18th century to ensure the smooth running of stately homes and large houses. As Lucy Clayton reports in the Financial Times, they are now being installed as part of contemporary house renovations, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. Mark Lawson, our Partner for the Southern Counties & High Value Residential & Rural Estates, shares his insights.

Read the article here.

United States of the Cotswolds

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Some 13 per cent of prime sales in the Cotswolds in 2025 were to Americans, report Melissa York and David Byers in The Times. Our Partner and Head of the Cotswold Harry Gladwin shared his insights.

Sarah Frances Kelley double fronted Georgian house Cotswolds
Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

The Cotswolds is continuing to see a surge of American buyers – and the region is taking note. Melissa York and David Byers writing in The Times explore how the area is adapting to their tastes, with our Partner Harry Gladwin highlighting why the Cotswolds appeals so strongly: top schools, beautiful homes, and lifestyle destinations like Estelle Manor and Soho Farmhouse.

Read the article here.

A New Chapter for London’s St James’s

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

Long associated with aristocratic tradition, St James’s is entering a new chapter as major redevelopment projects transform a historic corner of central London. Head of The Buying Solution Will Watson discusses the appeal of the area with journalist Paul Carey at UAE newspaper The National

While known for its royal palaces and gentlemen’s clubs, St James’s has a more low-key history of innovation, including housing what is considered London’s first skyscraper. That building, the Grade I-listed 55 Broadway above St James’s Park station, is now being redeveloped by Blue Orchid Hotels into a luxury hotel designed by the architects behind The Ned and The Old War Office.

The project forms part of a trio of nearby redevelopments – alongside The Broadway and 102 Petty France – that are revitalising the district between Victoria and Westminster and helping it emerge from the shadow of neighbouring Mayfair. Will Watson explains more about St James’s appeal and the property prices it commands.

Read the article here.