Faster property sales
The stamp duty holiday fostered a surge in selling activity throughout the country, leading to conveyancers becoming inundated. The instant exchange process experienced at auction houses has led to many buyers and vendors to flock to property auctions as an alternative option.
As a result of the busy market, EIG reported £539.5 million in sales — a significant increase from the £338 million and £469 million reported during September 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Much of the increase was due to an exceptionally busy commercial auction market which generated £154 million in sales. Auctioneers also noted that they had seen an increase in interest from buyers as a result of COVID-19 causing many businesses to operate digitally.
It is safe to say that interest from sellers and attendance at property auctions has grown over the course of the pandemic and remains just as strong now.
The pandemic has opened consumers eyes to the world of auctioneering and I’m sure the profession will continue to see a large up taking.
Chattels auctions
Hiscox reported online art sales reaching £5 billion in the first six months of 2021, which is a 72 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020. Analytics firm Pi-eX also reported that the top three public auction houses—Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips —saw a 405 per cent year-over-year increase in sales during the second quarter of 2021 between the months of April and June.
The surge in auctioneering interest has even opened up employment opportunities, as auctioneers have called for additional chattels resource in order to handle the influx of new people taking to online auctions.
People seem to have now cottoned onto the perks of buying from auction houses compared to retail, especially given the increase in price of raw materials and the number of people looking to buy the items, as they now know they can buy high quality goods for a fraction of the price.
We’re continuing to see an increasing amount of job adverts for valuers and auctioneers due to the increase in demand. The next step for auctioneers is to educate those on the exciting world of auctions to bring more people into the industry.
Auctioneering
Propertymark Qualifications offers Level 3 Awards in Chattels Auctioneering and Real Property Auctioneering, providing training to understand the law and procedures of auctioneering, from appraisals and valuations to the marketing, legalities and conduct of auctioneers.
Are you Propertymark Protected?
If you're interested in selling your property through auction, using one of our members guarantees that you will be consulting with a regulated, professional who will give you up-to-date advice and guidance.
High Value Council Tax Surcharge concerns raised
Responding to the UK Government’s consultation, our primary concern is the practicality of identifying and valuing properties that would be subject to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS). Many high-value homes have not been sold for several years, meaning accurate valuations cannot be based solely on online estimates or market appraisals.
Replacing sold social homes is vital
Propertymark has responded to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's consultation on proposed changes to the House Sales Scheme. Whilst reforming the scheme is the right approach, we urge the Housing Executive to protect social housing supply while maintaining opportunities for home ownership.
Soaring landlord departures masked by growth of build-to-rent
More than 834,000 homes have left the UK private rented sector over the past decade, but a rise in new listings—driven partly by Build to Rent—means that rental supply is currently at its highest level for seven years. Professional agents play a crucial role in helping landlords understand their obligations, adapt to regulatory change, and operate successfully. Supporting responsible landlords to remain in the market is vital if tenants are to have access to an adequate choice of safe, affordable, and suitable homes.
Unsafe cladding linked to higher insurance rates in new government survey
New research covering more than 2,000 buildings in remediation programmes in England and Wales shows that insurance rates remain higher where flammable cladding or other external defects are present. The findings reinforce our call for faster remediation, transparent pricing, and premiums that respond when building risks are reduced.
Propertymark research supports calls for swift, meaningful change for leaseholders
Nearly ten years after we first began campaigning on this issue, reform is still not moving fast enough. Flat owners remain trapped by rising costs, complex rules, and a sales market that is becoming harder to navigate. We’ve drawn on fresh evidence from more than 1,200 leaseholders and over 200 Propertymark members to expose the current impact of unaffordable costs linked to building safety defects, the difficulty of challenging unreasonable service charges, and the increasing barriers to sale which are putting the market under significant pressure.
Leasehold: still a life sentence?
Despite legislative progress, leaseholders remain trapped by rising costs, complex rules, and an uncertain market. Based on evidence from Propertymark members and leaseholders, this report sets out why we continue to campaign for reform to go further and faster.
