What is happening in the world of property in these troubled times? Our experts cast an eye over the week’s property news. Administrations, redundancies and falling share prices are headline news. What will be the impact of the Pre Budget Report on the property industry? and it’s not all bad news either! We look at the opening of Westfield London.
Property Week online reporter Georgie Hobbs heads down to Westfield to see what the public think of the new boy on the London shopping block and speaks to Linsey Wooldridge, marketing manager from Westfield to see how they think their new baby is being received.
While James Max interviews restaurateur Jamie Barber of Hush, Villandry and Kitchen Italia fame about how important good property is to his business and Property Week’s Deputy Editor James Whitmore looks at the big stories making headlines this week.
Episode 01
Readers comments regarding the Empty rates debate:
Mike Harris said: ‘I am almost speehless. The ineptitude, the stupidity ,the lack of foresight. How can this help the medium sized business with an empty building. Why do they have to pay empty rates- could this lead to more staff being laid off-it is taking money away unnessarily and stops an engine of growth. What does this do to a car manufacturer who is initially slowing down production and who knows maybe has to close a plant.
‘What does this do to the rest of his business. He knocks down buildings that could otherwise be used for small seedcorn businesses and which could take time to let in normal circumstances. It takes away opportunity. When the whole property industry and many of the governments own members call for the abolition of this stupid measure this government is surely not just deaf.’
Daniel said: I was priced out in 2000. Over the last decade I have lost tens of thousands of pounds paying rent. Far more than the average person who will go into negative equity, will lose. Where’s my bail out? Where’s the Property Week headlines for the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people, in the same situation as me? Where’s the impartiality? Your home should be repossessed and sold at a more reasonable price to another hard up family who can still afford the mortgage when things get a bit tighter. Go rent a property if you cannot afford to buy one!! This is Ridiculous! ALL BECAUSE I WAS SENSIBLE ENOUGH NOT TO BORROW MORE THAN I COULD AFFORD, TO BUY A HOUSE!!!!! OUR GOVERNMENT NEED LOCKING UP. This will not stop house prices dropping back down to 2000 levels. Nothing Will now.’
Christopher Noble said: ‘We should show our humble and grateful thanks to the Chancellor for showing such generous mercy, by introducing this Empty Rates relief, especially as we approach Christmas. P.S. Could somebody please remind me who introduced this tax?’
Jamie Barber’s websites
Stories discussed by James Max and James Whitmore in the podcast:
Send feedback to: podcast@propertyweek.com
Podcast: Download (16.0MB)
