Affordable housing & viability

Our highly experienced affordable housing team will be your valuer, consultant and agent, with a full spectrum of services ranging from development advice to complex planning and regeneration issues.

Part of our wider development advisory & agency service, we take a nimble and creative approach to your challenges, building value by providing practical advice on planning, construction management, architecture and design, cost, and sustainability consultancy as well as sales advice.

Acting primarily for housing associations, banks, developers, public sector organisations and landowner clients, our advice is independent, valued and trusted.

Whether your project is a single asset or a complex portfolio, our thorough due diligence process will give you market research and cash flow appraisals, insights into specific environmental issues, all in conjunction with legal and planning frameworks.

We also provide insights on how to address your challenges and will consult with you on how to improve and add value to your existing assets.

Case studies

Case study

Releasing green belt land for development will benefit charity

We advised Leonard Cheshire Trust, a charity that helps disabled people to live independently, regarding the disposal of their property in Enfield.
Case study

Marketing and disposal strategy leads to successful sale of London retail warehouse

Our development advisory & agency team was instructed by a global asset investment management firm to assess the developmentopportunities of a part vacant retail warehouse in Greater London with a view to disposing.
Case study

Smoothing the waters for Windmill Developments

Enfield Borough Council refused an application by Windmill Developments Ltd for their proposed development of 49 homes on the grounds that they had not included a 35% provision for affordable housing.
Case study

Financially assessing a major W1 scheme

Cluttons was appointed by Westminster City Council (WCC) to assess the financial viability of a planning application for the demolition and redevelopment to provide a new 44-bedroom hotel and up to 88 residential units in Hanover Square, one of London’s most important squares.
Case study

Balancing the books for retirement living at the lawns

We were appointed to produce a Red Book valuation of a building on council-owned land that had 39 one-bedroom flats and several retail units.
Case study

Optimising the sales strategy enables key regeneration project

Cluttons was appointed in 2014 by charity housing association Network Homes to provide valuation and consultancy advice and support them in a decision on the financial viability of regenerating and redeveloping a 1960’s estate in Brixton.
Case study

Expertise in specialist properties results in six figure saving

We have acquired and adapted our expertise to value the specialist properties unique to this client.
Case study

Flood risk consultancy: United Biscuits, Carlisle

After flooding at the client’s large factory site in Carlisle, for a second time in 11 years, Cluttons designed and project managed a comprehensive flood defence scheme to protect the site against future flood events.
Case study

Business ratings: Telefonica, Market Street, Manchester

As part of the wider Telefonica business rates instruction, the O2 shop on Market Street, Manchester was appealed on the basis that its rates assessment was too high.
Case study

Whiteley Village – Eliza Palmer Care Hub

Cluttons are acting as Employers Agent, Cost advisors, CDM advisors and architectural support to Whiteley Homes Trust, an elderly care provider in Walton on Thames.
Case study

Canada life investments sells 14 great Peter Street

Case study

Redevelopment potential highlighted for sheltered housing provider

Following a competitive tender, Cluttons’ planning & regeneration and valuation teams were instructed by a UK wide specialist housing provider, to review 72 sites comprising sheltered accommodation within the client’s wider property portfolio.
Case study

Seven figure rating saving on De Beers London HQ

Cluttons acts for De Beers UK Ltd as their rating advisor.
Case study

Successful refurb and restack for global investment bank

Cluttons were instructed by a global investment bank in the City of London as project and cost managers to deliver the restack of their HQ and the refurbishment of the management floor.
Case study

Refurbishment of Painter’s Hall

Refurbishment of Painter-Stainers main Banqueting Hall.
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Flood defence: James Walker, Cumbria

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Flood defence: electricity distribution client, southern region

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The completion of Technology Centre for St Lawrence College

Case study

Breathing new life into the Garrick Club

Cluttons was appointed to provide project & cost management services for the comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II* Garrick Club for their Masterplan Project.
Case study

Pre let to major publishing house in Regent Quarter

Acting on behalf of Istithma P&O Estates and Henderson Global Investors Cluttons pre let Regent Quarter, Kings Cross to Macmillan Publishers.
Case study

Complete agency solutions as occupation reduced

Cluttons provided UPM Kymmene (Finnish Paper Mills) with a holistic end to end service including acquisition, management, refurbishment, lettings and rent reviews.
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Disposal of a major regeneration scheme to consortium developers

Case study

Substantial savings secured for Telefonica (O2)

Cluttons’ rating team assist in the management, administration, payments and mitigation of business rates for over 7,500 UK based properties on behalf of Telefonica (O2).
Case study

Negotiating business rates savings of £150K for H&R Johnson Tiles

H&R Johnson Tiles showroom in London that is located on Great Titchfield Street had the potential to negotiate a business rates saving due to development works taking place on the neighbouring property.
Case study

Due diligence surveys for acquisition, refinancing and sale

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Cluttons provides valuation services for large housing association

Case study

Managing E Hayes Dashwood charity estate

Cluttons were appointed to manage this residential Charity Estate in 2005.
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Proactivity leads to substantial saving for Colorcon

Case study

Success in planning application for listed Tower Hamlets school

Case study

Maximising value of sites for London Borough

Case study

Joined up service from Cluttons helps Sei’s expansion

Case study

Success at arbitration for major container operator in Cannock

Cluttons was instructed by Pentalver Cannock, a subsidiary of The Maersk Company, to advise on the rent review of their 22 acre rail connected, container storage facility in Cannock.
Case study

Our flexible approach to agency tailors to your requirement

Case study

Global telecom giant required flexible space

Cluttons Flexible Office Space successfully worked with O2 / Telefonica to find managed office space for a project team in the West End.
Case study

Shariah funding for a central London student development

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Substantial Baker Street acquisition for private client

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Kensington high street retail block purchased

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Property management for the representative body of the church in Wales

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Property management for the Crown Estate

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Future retail warehouse performance as part of valuation for Kier

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100% occupancy in managing a large mixed use investment portfolio

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Realising development potential of a Parish portfolio

Latest news & events

Research

Residential lettings market update Q1 2023

Rents continue to rise strongly across the UK as demand flows back into city centres where supply is tight.
Research

UK and London sales market update Q1 2023

Average house price growth slowed sharply at the end of last year and continued to ease in January.
Research

UK economic outlook Q1 2023

The economic outlook for the UK is challenging this year, but there is growing consensus that the downturn will not be as long as previously expected.
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Residential forecasts Q4 2022

After months of political upheaval, the landscape has calmed in recent weeks, providing a greater sense of stability in markets than at any time since mid-September.
Research

Forecasts and outlook Q3 2022

The recent political upheavals have exacerbated the uncertainty around the UK’s economic outlook. But behind the headlines, housing data has for some months been pointing to a slowing market after several years of record-high activity.
Research

Wider South East Q3 2022

House price growth slowed slightly in the wider South East in Q3, but are still up 10% year on year.
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London sales and rental review Q3 2022

Average house prices across London continued register growth in Q3, but at a more modest rate than other regions.
Research

UK economic outlook Q3 2022

Months of political upheaval has served to increase the UK’s economic uncertainty in recent months as policy U-turns added significantly to existing market volatility.
Research

Development review Q3 2022

The supply of new homes at national level was very much in line with recent trends in Q3, but the outlook is turning negative due to weakness in the wider housing market and the impending end of Help to Buy.
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UK rental review Q3 2022

Average UK rents continue to rise strongly, with double-digit growth in most regions in Q3.
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UK sales review Q3 2022

Official data continues to show strong price growth for average house prices, and high activity levels.
Research

Forecast and outlook Q2 2022

Q2 saw the first small signs that the struggling economy was starting to impact the housing market, but some forecasters are still upgrading their growth expectations for 2022 based on the very high levels seen in the first half of the year.
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Wider South East Q2 2022

Annual house price and rental growth remained around the 10% level in the wider South East in Q2, broadly continuing trends from earlier this year and staying in line with national trends.
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UK economic outlook Q2 2002

Q2 saw further volatility for the economic recovery, with monthly GDP growth in May above expectations but other indicators turning increasingly negative.
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London sales and rental review Q2 2022

Annual rental growth increased to around 15% in London in Q2, taking values beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Research

Development review Q2 2022

At the national level housebuilding recorded a positive Q2, with output slightly ahead of recent trends.
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UK rental review Q2 2022

Rental growth across the country accelerated further in Q2 as demand stayed high and there was only a limited response on the supply side.
Research

UK sales review Q2 2022

The UK housing market continued to look strong in Q2 despite higher mortgage rates and the rising cost-of-living.
Research

Forecasts and outlook Q1 2022

At national level the housing market has so far defied these issues but affordability is starting to look stretched and the expected further rises in inflation and mortgage rates are likely to dampen growth.
Research

Wider South East Q1 2022

Both sales and rental values continued to grow strongly across the wider South East in Q1.
Research

London sales and rental review Q1 2022

sales market saw further price growth in Q1, but at a slower rate than the rest of the country.
Research

UK economic outlook Q1 2022

The economic recovery stuttered in Q1 due to another Covid variant, although many measures are back to their pre-pandemic levels.
Research

Development review Q1 2022

So far 2022 has been business as usual for housebuilding, with output very much in line with recent trends both nationally and in London.
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UK rental market Q1 2022

The rental market started 2022 much as it left 2021, with demand well ahead of supply in all regions, rental growth over 10%, and huge competition for properties.
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UK Sales review Q1 2022

Demand remained ahead of supply in Q1, leading to high levels of activity and price growth continuing the trends from 2021.
Research

UK economic outlook Q4 2021

The economy grew steadily in Q4 as it continued to recover from pandemic restrictions, with employment data also looking good.
Research

Forecasts & Outlook Q4 2021

The economy continues to recover and GDP finally returned to pre-pandemic levels in Q4. More expansion is expected in 2022, but cost of living pressures are likely to limit growth in the short term.
Research

Wider South East Q4 2021

House prices and rents across the wider South East grew strongly in Q4, with annual increases of around 10% – in line with the national picture.
Research

London sales & rental review Q4 2021

The sales and rental markets in London both showed strong growth in Q4, but overall have not quite kept pace with the rest of the country through the pandemic period.
Research

Development review Q4 2021

The end of 2021 saw housing supply broadly continuing in line with recent trends at national level and in London, having now recovered to pre-pandemic levels but, unlike second hand market activity, not surpassed them.
Research

UK rental market Q4 2021

Rental growth was very high in 2021, as high as 10% at national level on Rightmove’s index. This is driven by demand continuing to outstrip supply across most regions, property types and price points.
Research

UK sales market Q4 2021

Q4 was the first quarter for over a year with no stamp duty discount available, but the sales market maintained momentum and finished the year with double-digit price growth. Transactions have so far avoided the steep drop off expected in some quarters, despite shortages of stock for sale.
Research

Connecting the UK

We partnered with YouGov to survey MPs and councillors about the Government’s gigabit rollout plans and the challenges involved in meeting the national targets. In addition, we surveyed businesses and consumers to gain insight into the level of understanding around gigabit capable technology and awareness of the benefits that gigabit connections can bring.
Research

Wider South East Q3 2021

High levels of house price growth were seen in both the sales and rental markets of the wider South East in Q3, continuing the trend seen throughout 2021 so far.
Research

UK economic outlook Q3 2021

There was a stop-start nature to the economic recovery in Q3, with shortages of labour and materials taking over from pandemic restrictions as the main drag on growth.
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Forecasts & outlook Q3 2021

The economy is recovering ahead of the initially expected schedule and, while this should continue next year, there are risks that supply chain and labour issues could push inflation well above target.
Research

UK development review Q3 2021

More of the same for the development statistics in Q3 as pre-pandemic levels of output continue both at national and London level.
Research

UK rental review Q3 2021

The rental market recovery strengthened further in Q3, with high demand and low supply conditions continuing across the country.
Research

UK sales review Q3 2021

The high demand and relatively low supply environment persisted in Q3, meaning more house price growth and continuing high levels of activity as buyers competed over available homes.
Research

London sales & rental review Q3 2021

The London rental market was very strong in Q3, across both the prime and mainstream sectors, as demand increased significantly due to returning office workers and the usual seasonal boost from students and graduates.
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Forecasts & outlook Q2 2021

UK house price growth is expected to continue, but at a slower pace after a very strong start to the year. The momentum built up is such that falls are not anticipated, even as Government employment support schemes are withdrawn.
Research

Wider South East Q2 2021

The wider South East is seeing strong house price and rental growth in 2021, outperforming London but broadly in line with national trends.
Research

London sales & rental review Q2 2021

The mainstream London sales market has held up well through the pandemic but is lagging the very strong growth seen in other regions. Its rental market is weaker but showing signs of recovery.
Research

UK economic outlook Q2 2021

The recovery continues but the economy remains smaller than before the pandemic and a range of risks persist.
Research

UK development review Q2 2021

Housebuilding in Q2 continued in line with pre-pandemic trends at national level. London saw stronger performance, boosted by the improving lettings market driving a recovery in activity in the Build to Rent sector.
Research

UK rental review Q2 2021

Rents hit record highs again in Q2 at national level and, while the split between London and other regions continued, there were signs that demand in city centres is recovering.
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UK sales review Q2 2021

At national level the sellers’ market continues, with high demand and relatively low supply pushing up prices and turnover. Most of the benefit of the stamp duty holiday has gone, but other factors such as higher levels of savings, low interest rates, and lifestyle re-evaluation continue to drive activity.
Research

What is the future of Prime Central London?

Prime Central London has had to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of the rich and famous for hundreds of years. It now faces new challenges – not just thanks to Brexit and the immediate impacts of the global pandemic – but also longer-term issues like changing lifestyle preferences and climate change.
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Prime Central London’s global demand & local markets

Prime Central London attracts people from across the world, with demand for homes reflecting global political and economic trends. But local factors are also important. Each sub-market of Prime Central London has its own appeal to different people.
Research

What is Prime Central London?

There is no single definition of Prime Central London, and it continues to change and evolve depending on the demands and fashions of the time. Prime Central London has seen huge change since it emerged from the fields and marshes of the 18th century.
Research

The evolution of Prime Central London report

The evolution of Prime Central London report is the first of Cluttons’ series of new research looking at the opportunities and challenges facing the UK’s housing market. We start our series by focusing on Prime Central London.
Research

Forecasts & outlook Q1 2021

UK house price growth is likely to slow in the second half of the year as the Stamp Duty holiday reaches its end and government support schemes are withdrawn. Rents in Prime Central London are expected to bounce back slightly this year after a very poor 2020. Next year could see strong growth for both sales and rental values as the London economy, and its global connections, get back closer to normal.
Research

Wider South East Q1 2021

The wider South East saw strong house price growth in Q1, and the average time taken to rent a property reached record lows. The pandemic may be impacting the locations people choose, perhaps leaving traditionally popular commuter towns overlooked.
Research

Prime Central London Q1 2021

Prime Central London sales values continued to fall in Q1, but transaction numbers and stock levels were up on the same period last year which suggests increased confidence in the market. The rental market is still weak, but sentiment has improved relative to late last year.
Research

Greater London sales & rental review Q1 2021

Annual house price growth is positive in Greater London, at above 4%. But transaction levels are below their long-run average and rental growth is negative. Leading indicators show the capital underperforming the rest of England on all three metrics.
Research

Residential development Q1 2021

K residential development output appears to have fully recovered, albeit recent activity has not made up for the drop in supply in Q2 2020. New build sales and development activity in London remains slow, but agents and developers are positive about the longer-term outlook.
Research

UK rental review Q1 2021

The UK lettings market started 2021 in robust fashion, with sentiment in Q1 pointing towards higher demand and price growth. There is, however, growing evidence of a potentially significant problem with arrears in the private rented sector.
Research

UK sales review Q1 2021

A year on from the first lockdown and the UK housing market continues to defy the negative economic news, with values up again in Q1 and activity remaining strong. On an annual basis prices are up 5.7% according to the Nationwide index, and mortgage approvals in February were 20% higher than the same month a year ago.
Research

UK economic outlook Q4 2020

The restrictions due to the second lockdown – the so-called ‘circuit-breaker’ – caused a further fall in GDP in November, 2.6% below the previous month. On an annual basis, output has fallen 8.9%, and is currently 8.5% below the pre-pandemic level (February 2020).
Research

Forecasts & outlook Q4 2020

The table below shows Experian’s latest house price forecasts for Cluttons, all based on their latest central economic scenario of GDP returning to end-2019 levels in early 2023 – this is a slower recovery than expected last quarter.
Research

Prime Central London Q4 2020

There were further decreases for sales values and rents in Q4, according to Cluttons Prime Central London Index, shown in Figure 1. Although the pace of quarter-on-quarter decreases slowed, the annual falls reached 13.2% for sales and 17.8% for rents.
Research

Wider South East Q4 2020

The wider South East saw strong price growth in Q4, in line with the performance of the UK market, according to the Nationwide indices.
Research

London development Q4 2020

Q4 was a slower one for new build sales and development activity in London, with all three main metrics lower than Q4 2019, according to the latest data from Molior, shown in Table 1. Molior’s January report noted distinct patterns of behaviour across 2020’s four quarters, not all driven by the pandemic.
Research

Greater London sales & rental review Q4 2020

In terms of sentiment 2020 was a case of London vs. the rest, with stories of buyers keen to move to larger homes in the country now they can, or must, work from home and avoid the commute.
Research

England residential development Q4 2020

Q4 saw the residential development sector try to make up lost ground from the first lockdown, partially succeeding.
Research

UK rental review Q4 2020

After much volatility in Q2 and 3, sentiment in the national lettings market (outside London) settled back towards pre-pandemic trends in Q4, despite continuing lockdown restrictions.
Research

UK sales review Q4 2020

UK house prices finished a volatile year over 5% up on where they started, according to the main indices (+7.3% Nationwide, +6.0% Halifax).
Research

UK residential sales review Q3 2020

strong summer, defying the economic weakness caused by the COVID-19 lockdown and continuing restrictions. The third quarter of 2020 saw recovering activity levels and price increases, according to the main indicators.
Research

London development Q3 2020

Activity levels in the London development market bounced back strongly in Q3 across all three main metrics (starts, completions and sales), according to Molior data as shown in Table 1. This suggests the impact of lockdown was short-lived and contained to the previous quarter.
Research

Greater London sales & rental review Q3 2020

Much of the commentary around London property in the pandemic has suggested that increased working from home and a desire for more space – particularly gardens – could really reshape the market as people and businesses abandon the city.
Research

UK development overview Q3 2020

We saw last quarter that residential development activity quickly recovered to pre-pandemic levels once sites were able to open up again.
Research

Forecasts & outlook Q3 2020

Experian’s latest house price forecasts for Cluttons are shown in the table below, based on their central economic scenario of a ‘delayed V-shape’, which sees UK GDP recover to pre-pandemic levels at the start of 2022.
Research

Prime Central London Q3 2020

The Cluttons Prime Central London Index, shown in Figure 1, reported that sales values in PCL were 8.4% lower in Q3 2020 than a year earlier, the seventeenth consecutive quarter of annual price falls.
Research

UK economic outlook Q3 2020

The economic data reported since our last update appears to have finished off any hopes of a ‘V-shaped’ recovery.
Research

UK rental review Q3 2020

The national lettings market continued its post-pandemic recovery in Q3, apart from in London where high supply and low demand continued to put downward pressure on rents.
Research

Wider South East Q3 2020

tracking the national average for several years, whereas London has seen more volatility, according to the Nationwide indices.
Research

Forecasts & outlook Q2 2020

PCL values set to bounce back next year but UK recovery delayed until 2022. Will Brexit and potential tax reform throw things off course?
Research

Wider South East Q2 2020

Stamp Duty holiday and desire for space see interest rise across wider South East.
Research

UK rental review Q2 2020

Rental market bounces back but outlook is mixed as increases in remote working and studying could limit demand in some sectors.
Research

Greater London sales & rental review Q2 2020

London’s rental market set to struggle while buyer demand remains robust despite stretched affordability – and is given further boost by Stamp Duty holiday.
Research

Prime Central London Q2 2020

Rental and sales values dip across all Prime Central London areas but activity continues where buyer and seller expectations are aligned.
Research

London development Q2 2020

Sales and construction hit by pandemic in Q2 but latest completions data is more positive.
Research

UK economic outlook Q2 2020

Slow initial recovery and scale of government support suggest difficult time ahead for economy.
Research

UK development overview Q2 2020

Housebuilding sites reopen and developers get boost from increased planning flexibility.
Research

UK sales review Q2 2020

Early indicators suggest post-lockdown surge for sales market, but how long can it be sustained?
Research

London residential development Q1 2020

The pandemic introduces additional risks to the Central London new build market, on top of its general impact.
Research

Residential London review Q1 2020

As COVID-19 stalls sustained price growth in Greater London, we review recent data indicating already decelerating growth in high-value locations.
Research

Prime Central London review Q1 2020

Initial research suggests activity in Prime Central London (PCL) will be particularly affected by COVID-19, but discretionary buyers and sellers may help the market recover quicker than other parts of the UK.
Research

UK residential forecast Q1 2020

The extent and duration of the health and economic crises caused by COVID-19 are still unknown, casting a shadow over the economy.
Research

UK Home Counties review Q1 2020

Sales market sees values across all counties close to flat over the past year, with activity slightly down overall.
Research

UK residential development review Q1 2020

As many sites’ shutdown at the start of lockdown, new build development is subject to the twin effects of an uncertain economy and the physical disruption.
Research

UK rental review Q1 2020

As new landlord instructions and rent expectation figures drop to their lowest ever levels, how will rents be impacted later in the year?
Research

UK economic outlook Q1 2020

Initial data measuring the economy post-shutdown suggested a large impact. But as the Coronavirus pandemic continues, the Government’s unprecedented response gives hope that that the outcome will be better than initially expected.
Research

UK residential sales review Q1 2020

At the end of 2019, the UK’s housing markets were starting to emerge from a long period of ‘wait and see’. By January, UK sales expectations were the highest they’d been since the end of 2015. But before the quarter ended, COVID-19 brought transactions levels to an immediate halt. Here, we assess the potential impact on housing throughout the rest of the year.
Research

Residential market outlook, September 2019

Price corrections leading to an increase in buyer enquiries.
Research

Residential market outlook June 2019

Brexit continues to dominate the headlines. Resilient buyers sought to close deals across the capital before the 29 March deadline, others are watching and waiting for a clarity and certainty that, despite the extension, remains elusive.
Research

London residential market outlook winter 2018/19

Cluttons has released its Winter 2018/19 Residential Market Outlook report.
Research

Autumn budget 2018

The Chancellor unveiled the 2018 Autumn Budget on 29 October, the last before Britain officially leaves the EU in March next year. In our response document, we present our view on some of the key announcements.
Research

London residential market bulletin summer 2018

Contact

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Giles Sutcliffe

Partner

T +44 (0) 20 7647 7238

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