Tag: The Times

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.

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.

Budget-Proof Your Home to Avoid Mansion Tax

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

With speculation mounting around a potential ‘mansion tax’ on properties valued above £2 million in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget, our Partners Harry Gladwin and Mark Lawson offered their insight to The Times for their tongue-in-cheek feature exploring the many (and often surprising) ways to devalue a home.

From artificial grass and indoor swimming pools to gaudy interior decoration and botched DIY jobs, David Byers reports for The Times on the myriad ways in which the value of a property can be reduced.

With a so-called ‘mansion tax’ on properties worth £2 million expected in the Budget on 26th November 2025, our Partners Harry Gladwin and Mark Lawson shared their tips on the home improvements which can actually devalue your home.

Read the article here.

Could You Be Making Angela Rayner’s Stamp Duty Oversight?

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Former housing secretary Angela Rayner’s much-discussed property dealings highlight a problem that our Partner Harry Gladwin sees often, particularly in high-value deals. In a recent column for The Times, Harry explains how assuming that one advisor can cover all bases can have far-reaching consequences.

London red brick apartment building.
Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

In a recent column for The Times, our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds Region Harry Gladwin writes that complex property transactions require robust, expert advice and a team of specialists; including tax advisers, planning lawyers, accountants and surveyors. “In property, mistakes are expensive and, as Angela Rayner discovered, getting it wrong can cost you far more than money,” he writes.

Read the article here.

Is the Government Destroying the Housing Market?

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

With endless ‘kite-flying’ speculation concerning rising property taxes ahead of the Autumn Budget, some are suggesting that the government have already done more harm than good. Head of the Buying Solution, Will Watson, speaks to The Times and our Partner in the Northern Home Counties, Jemma Scott, speaks to The Telegraph about the impact they are witnessing on the ground

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, London.

Unnerved by the prevailing uncertainty, some nervous owners of best-in-class properties are already considering selling ahead of the Budget on 26th November, Will Watson tells David Byers at The Times. “Particularly those who’ve held their properties for over 20 years and seen significant price growth,” adds Will. Read the article here.

Speaking to Maya Wilson Autzen at The Telegraph, Jemma Scott says that despite carrying more stock than she has had in recent memory, the market is heading towards stasis, thanks to the curveballs being thrown by the government ahead of the Budget. Read the article here.

How Postcode Snobbery Presents Great Buying Opportunities

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

While some buyers are happy to pay a premium for a prestigious postcode, there is often far better value to be had nearby, our Cotswolds Partner Harry Gladwin tells Hugh Graham at The Times.

Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

The wrong combination of letters and numbers in a Cotswold property’s address can completely deter some buyers, while others are willing to pay a six-figure premium simply for the GL postcode. Yet in the nearby villages of Warwickshire you can find the same charming honeyed-stone cottages and rolling views for significantly less, says Harry Gladwin in The Times.

Read the article here.

In the Press: The Buying Solution in The Times

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

Katrina Burroughs from Times Luxx talks to our Partner in High Value Residential and Rural Estates, Mark Lawson MRICS, about high-end designers turning their attentions to the four-legged family members, and the lengths some of his international clients will go to to ensure their pets’ in-flight comfort.

Read the article in The Times here.

The Buying Solution in The Times

Posted on by Jennifer Hudson

Harry Gladwin of The Buying Solution speaks to David Byers of The Times about the potential impact of sending children to state schools on the property market and the possible effects if Labour were to impose VAT on private school fees in its first budget.

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The Buying Solution in The Times

Posted on by Jennifer Hudson

Mark Lawson of The Buying Solution speaks to Ben Clatworthy of The Times about the affects wet weather has on the property market.

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The Buying Solution in The Sunday Times

Posted on by Jennifer Hudson

Will Watson of The Buying Solution speaks to Melissa York of The Sunday Times about the advantages of purchasing a property that requires work or is a fixer-upper.

Read more here