Rents grow at fastest annual rate in 16 years Average asking rents outside London hit another new record of £1,126 p/m, up 3.5% vs. last quarter and 11.8% vs. last year:Average asking rents outside London have jumped 19% (+£177) in the two years since the pandemic started, the same growth in rents that took eight years pre-pandemic to reach.This qu...
What is important in a confusing property market?
Events in the property market are largely controlled by turnover and turnover affects prices - up or down. There are major events like world wars and global pandemics and inconvenient events like fuel and food shortages, interest rate increasing and cost of living rises. But it might surprise you to learn that the events which so often drive the pr...
Using the Local Plan or Neighbourhood Plan to Restrict Second Homes
A recent vote undertaken in Whitby has seen the community vote resoundingly in favour of imposing restrictions on second homes, with the aim of ensuring that all new homes built in area are for full-time and primary occupation. Many coastal and rural communities have experienced a significant increase in the proportion of homes in their area being ...
Revised National Planning Policy Framework?
On Wednesday 8 July 2022, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove announced that a revised National Planning Policy Framework will be published in July. This was a bit of a surprise announcement which generated much discussion within the planning and development sector. His announcement was made in response to...
Summer 2022 Newsletter
Bringing you all the latest up to date information, our latest newsletter is now available to view by clicking the link below: https://mailchi.mp/57b37b38f764/pfk-land-agency-summer-newsletter-2022 In this newsletter, you'll find Jo Edwards' outlook on what we can expect in the coming months, why there is no time to waste when it comes to new ...
Environmental Land Management (ELM) Scheme 2022: Sustainable Farming Incentive
England is now in the second year of the phasing out of the current Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) and the transition to the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, these new schemes are based on the principal of 'public money for public goods', paying farmers and landowners public money for carrying out farming and land management acti...
Spring 2022: A Land Agent's Perspective
With spring now well underway bringing with it the welcome feelings of a new season of fresh growth and longer days, from a Land Agent's perspective it's usually a barometer of where things are within the agricultural sector.Despite the very real concerns associated with rising fertilizer, energy, fuel and feed costs, demand for land remains high a...
Half of English Basic Payment to be Paid in July
As a response to current cash flow issues, DEFRA has announced today (Friday, 6th May) that it is now using its freedom out the CAP to make a first half payment of this year's Basic Payment in England in July to those who have made eligible applications by 16th May. The balance of the payment will then be paid from December in the usual paymen...
Important Update - Nutrient Neutrality Guidance
At the end of March 2022, all of the Local Planning Authorities in Cumbria received 'Nutrient Neutrality Notifications' from Natural England in relation to rivers and waterbodies in the catchments of Protected Habitat Sites. Natural England have issued this advice where Habitats Sites are in an unfavourable conservation status and additional nutrie...
Non-executive director appointed at PFK
Penrith Farmers' and Kidd's PLC (PFK) are delighted to announce the appointment of a new non-executive director. Ian Lancaster was appointed to the Board in February 2022. Ian, born and bred in Cumbria, has his own Chartered Accountancy firm in the city of Carlisle. He is married to Jayne and has three sons, aged 27, 25 and 20. Alongside his accoun...
Spring Into Action
As we head into spring, Lynne Lancaster of PFK Estate Agents looks at what's required to win the race to buy a home. Markets are forever in flux. So our handling of markets must be flexible. We can buy, hold or sell in the stock market depending on conditions. In a fruit and vegetable market we can buy the freshest produce early in t...
Massive mortgages are on the way & old restrictions may be ditched
The Bank of England have today issued a consultation on changing the affordability tests for large mortgages in the wake of the global financial crisis. Whilst house prices continue to increase is this the right way forward? Lynne Lancaster Head of Estate Agency at PFK said "We are seeing some clients who are looking for larger mortgages find thems...
Find the right grant for you with PFK Land Agency
Over the last month there have been many announcements from the Government about future schemes and opportunities available to farmers.The most recent announcement gave more detail on the Animal Health and Welfare Review under which pig, sheep and cattle farmers will be able to apply for a grant for an annual vet visit to help to look at the follow...
England - BPS Lump Sum Exit Scheme
The long awaited details of the Lump Sum Exit Scheme (the "retirement scheme") have been announced by the Government. If you have given up land since 2020, or are contemplating giving up then this is something which should be considered.The headline details are:The payment will be calculated from a reference period of 2019 to 2021, and the av...
Chained Up – Lynne Lancaster Head of Estate Agency at PFK
Even seasoned estate agents say that there has rarely been a property market like this. "Property prices rising at pre-banking crisis levels", "Properties for sale - numbers lowest in decades", say the press in reaction to comments made by lenders, property websites and other interested parties. Moving might not be complicated for buyers who don't ...