Market News & Reports

Of 18 areas we looked at, the best value for those wanting to rent is Chatham, on the Medway estuary in North Kent. For those wanting to buy a two to three bedroom house or flat, Chatham also turns out to be the most affordable.

Hong Kong's British National (Overseas) passport holders and their immediate dependants will have the right to apply for a new special UK visa from January 31, 2021. A five-year visa will cost £250 per person.

Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Link REIT) announced that it will acquire a property valued at approximately 380 million pounds (equivalent to ~HKD3.7685 billion) in Canary Wharf, London, UK. The Cabot at 25 Cabot Square will be Link REIT's first acquisition of British assets.

The government has temporarily increased the stamp duty threshold to £500,000 for property sales in England and Northern Ireland. First-time buyers will not be taxed if the property is costing £500,000 or less and the legal transaction is being completed before April 2021, more expensive properties will only be taxed on their value above that amount.

The new bespoke immigration route will allow BN(O)s to come to the UK without the current 6 month limit, granting them 5 years limited leave to remain, with the ability to live and work in the UK. After these 5 years, they will be able to apply for settled status and, after a further 12 months with that status, apply for citizenship.

The UK Home Secretary has asked that the UK should grant BN(O) passport holders and their family dependents in Hong Kong the right to enter and reside in the UK, with a pathway to settlement after 5 years and the right to apply for citizenship.

Under the new British government plan – which will be put in place when Beijing formally enacts the law – every one of the 3 million Hongkongers who qualify for a British National (Overseas) passport and their dependents could relocate to the United Kingdom to stay and work or study for extendable periods of 12 months, creating a path to citizenship.

Phase One of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension to Library tram stop now open!