More Blog Posts

Shaping the Future: The Journey of Social Housing to Net Zero Carbon Emissions

Charting the journey to net-zero carbon emissions, this blog post explores the complex dynamics of transitioning social housing towards a more sustainable future. Understand the economic, social, and technological implications, as we navigate the exciting opportunities and formidable challenges in our quest for a greener tomorrow

Youthful Revival: How a New Generation is Energising Rural Living

The allure of rural living has become increasingly irresistible for young buyers. The pandemic and soaring housing prices have acted as a catalyst for a change that was always on the horizon.

Content is King: Mastering the Art of Engaging Blogging in the Ever-Evolving Digital Landscape.

In the rapidly evolving digital world, bloggers must prioritise engaging and informative content while adapting to new trends and technologies. Explore the changing landscape of blogging, the ongoing relevance of SEO, and the impact of emerging media formats on content creation and distribution.

Sean Clarke

Co-living Spaces: Revolutionising Urban Living for Young Professionals or Fleeting Fix to the Housing Crisis?

Unravel the world of co-living spaces in London as this blog delves into the reasons behind their growing popularity among young professionals. We examine the benefits, drawbacks, and long-term impact of this lifestyle on the housing crisis, while questioning its sustainability and potential alternatives.

Sean Clarke

Revolutionising Social Housing Satisfaction: Harnessing Proptech Solutions for Enhanced Tenant Experiences

Recent UK social housing trends prioritize tenant satisfaction, holding providers accountable for service quality. Discover the latest satisfaction metrics, strategies for improvement, and how Classic Folios & Spaciable can contribute to enhanced tenant experiences.

Canadian Home Ban Controversy: Can London Replicate this Foreign Investor Freeze for Housing Success?

Canada faces a housing crisis as skyrocketing prices outpace average earners. Rejecting traditional solutions like mortgage assistance or increased construction, Canada opts to ban foreign investors from purchasing homes.

Sean Clarke

Turning Developments Into Thriving Communities

What can developers do to ensure they are creating thriving communities?

Annabel MacKenzie

Celebrating the Women into Home Building Employment Programme for New Homes Week

To support New Homes Week, we're celebrating the fantastic initiative launched by The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Women Into Construction (WIC).

Annabel MacKenzie

How Housing Associations Can Rebuild the Sector’s Reputation

Exceptional customer care is not a laurel any property professional can rest on. Consumer expectations are rapidly increasing and transcending sectors. Opinions are so readily shared online that housing providers cannot afford to let standards slip.

Joe Harvey

The Urgency of Climate-Ready UK New Builds: How to Win the Battle for Future Generations

UK homes are facing a climate change crisis, with intensifying heatwaves and increased likelihood of extreme rainfall leaving the nation vulnerable. The government must take action and invest in low-carbon, resilient infrastructure. Developers are already stepping up with innovative solutions like heat pumps and solar panels, but there is a long way to go to ensure all new builds are prepared for the future

Sean Clarke

The Rise of Intelligent Homes: A Glimpse into the Future

Artificial Intelligence is a topic that is garnering a lot of attention at present. We thought that an interesting approach to the discussions would be to predict what the future of AI in homes might look like. Read our fly-on-the-wall look at the AI home of tomorrow as we step into a virtual time-machine to observe how AI has shaped home design – who knows, it may even give you some ideas for your future new builds!

Joe Harvey

The Impact of Climate Change on Real Estate: How PropTech Can Help Mitigate Negative Consequences

Climate Change will have a significant impact on the built environment, which will affect society as a whole. Hence, It's crucial to consider the physical and financial implications of this on the real estate sector, and to explore how PropTech solutions can address these challenges.

Truman Neighbourhoods: Exploring the Positives and Challenges of the 15-Minute City Model

The 15-minute city aims to connect citizens to the services they need and address social and environmental inequalities by creating vibrant, healthy and accessible communities. The concept has gained popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic and is being implemented in cities across Europe, New Zealand and Canada. However, the success of the model relies on substantial investment and engagement from residents to embrace change.

Sean Clarke

The Emergence of PropTech Solutions

The ever-evolving changes that the PropTech industry is experiencing come with myriad benefits. It keeps companies competitive, all whilst supplementing the lives of residential developers and homebuyers alike. Here are a few examples of SaaS being implemented across real estate.

Spaciable's Leading PropTech Solution is backed by Resident Protection Overseer

Classic Folios are proud to announce their accreditation by the New Homes Quality Board, which endorses the company’s Reservation and Completion Manuals, along with it’s award-winning PropTech platform Spaciable.

Spaciable is the PropTech Solution that Saves Christmas

No, you didn’t read that wrong. A PropTech Solution really can save Christmas. Read on to discover five situations where Spaciable can save the day!

Annabel MacKenzie

A Spaciable Christmas Playlist

Switch up your office Christmas playlist with our alternative mix of punk, hip-hop and glam-rock festive tunes!

The Day of 8 Billion – What Does It Mean for the Property Industry?

On 15th November 2022 humanity reached a significant milestone: a population of 8 billion. What impact will this have on the property industry?

Annabel MacKenzie

We find ourselves in a defining moment for urban transport.

With the government greenlighting rented electric scooter trials ahead of schedule, we may be taking the first steps towards the electric vehicle revolution sooner than expected.

What Will Happen with PropTech in 2022?

Crunchbase has drawn on their data to highlight what PropTech trends we could see in 2022, helping developers and investors get ahead of the game.

What’s Smart, Green and Can’t Be Ignored?

It’s more than a buzz word. It’s more than click-bait. It’s more than fear-mongering and the responsibility doesn’t fall at one single person’s doorstep. These statements aren’t hot takes; they are indisputable – that much is all too clear now.

We are very excited to showcase our latest product.

In partnership with WeCOMPLETE, SPACIABLE LEGAL, which is a digital conveyancing tool that will revolutionise the conveyancing process and reduce fall-throughs by a whopping 75%.

UK Property Market Continues to Defy Logic

Average UK house prices mark the fastest rising rate since 2007, with the year-on-year increase the highest in almost 40 years.

Turn Customers Into Salespeople – Pass It On

Many people would consider a positive review of a company from a trusted friend the most earnest form of marketing.

Spaciable's Top 10 Highlights of 2021

While 2020 was full of uncertainty and angst, 2021 has given us more reason for optimism, and while it hasn’t always been plain sailing, it has produced many highlights – both from a business perspective and on a national scale.

Time to See the Light with Solar Panels

According to The Solar Trade Association, solar panels have been installed to approximately 900,000 British homes. But with so many benefits, developers should strive to install solar panels on every building – especially when building integrated solar panels can actually save on roof covering costs.

Trees to Grow Out of Concrete Jungle

Eindhoven social housing development blooms with vertical forest, just one of the project’s numerous sustainable features, setting a new standard for affordable housing.

The Season for Giving

London and Home Counties-based developer Fairview New Homes pledges to donate £10,000 to buyers’ chosen charities when reserving a home at the Welcombe House Collection.

The Wonderful Wizard of Conveyancing

The conveyancing stage can be frustrating for buyers at the best of times, largely due to the work seemingly being conducted by a mysterious wizard behind a giant curtain, such is the lack of transparency. With some buyers waiting up to 40 days for local searches to be carried out and conveyancing costs doubling, Spaciable Legal pulls down the curtain to give buyers real-time updates and speed up the process.

The UK Still Has (Post-) Brex Appeal

Even after a tumultuous year, research by DLA Piper suggests the UK is the global hotspot for overseas property investment. But does this help or hinder the local market, and could it price out first-time buyers?

Tech Tock – Microsoft Set Deadline to Achieve Carbon Negative Status and What It Means for Real Estate

It seems that tech powerhouses, such as Apple, Amazon and now Microsoft are quickly realising that if they don’t put sustainability at the top end of their agenda, buying the latest iPhone, Echo Dot or Surface Pro is going to be the least of people’s worries.

The Roaring Twenties Part II : 20 Changes to Expect in the Real Estate Industry in the 2020s

‘The noughties’ is plagued by innuendo. ‘The 10s’ just sounds far too abridged to constitute a decade. ‘The Twenties’, however, at least sounds like the millennium’s first era, in much the same way Antony Slumbers suggested ‘the Roaring Twenties was the first real decade of the 20th Century.’ And so here we stand, 100 years later, in the early days of the 2020s, on the precipice of what some scholars, such as Klaus Schwab, are labelling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But should we expect another boom period or heed the warning of history and prepare for the grinding halt that the Wall Street Crash brought the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties to in 1929? In listing 20 changes to the real estate industry to expect in the 2020s, Antony Slumbers suggests we should be optimistic.

The Rental Market

The number of homes in the ‘build to rent’ sector are increasing by 20% year on year, with an expected 1.7 million units estimated for when the market reaches full maturity

The PropTech Inventions Reinventing Property

Royal Palm Companies CEO and founder Daniel Kodsi highlights four PropTechs that are currently changing the property industry and will continue to do so in the coming years.

The Proof is in the Postcodes

As Spaciable sweeps the nation, we decided to map out all of the developments on our award-winning portal to show our reach from Elgin to Plymouth, and Donaghmore to Norwich (and everywhere in between)!

The Price of a Stamp

This month saw the announcement of The Great Big British Stamp Duty Holiday (at least I think that’s what its formal title is?!).

The Great Migration

The living nightmare that was 2020 saw people (sometimes literally) running for the hills, with Londoners leaving the hustle and bustle, in favour of open spaces. New figures from Hamptons and Rightmove help us identify where people are moving to en masse, and which regions and towns developers may want to keep a close eye on.

The City of Tomorrow

Cities have changed and adapted throughout history, though for many of us, probably not a great deal in our personal experience, save for some beloved chains leaving (RIP Woolworths). But the high street has long been suffering from the popularity of online retail and the current pandemic landed some even heavier blows, forcing a reevaluation of how cities can benefit us and vice versa.

Teching the Boxes for Young Homebuyers

“Phenomenal” video tours give Auction House food for thought on approach to technology coming out of the pandemic, as property industry finally realises the potential of PropTech to appeal to young homebuyers.

Stop Hitting Snooze on Sustainability

After decades of hitting snooze on the wake-up call that is global warming, 2021 seemed to be the year we finally stretched our arms and rolled out of bed.

Rural Hotspots Are Getting Younger!

Forget Last of the Summer Wine – villages are competing to become First of the Summer Jäegerbombs, as homebuyers moving to rural areas are younger than a decade ago.

Stamp Duty Holiday: An Alternative Take

Knight Frank highlights data from OnTheMarket that shows a 30% rise in properties going under offer in England and Wales in March, compared to the same month in 2020; however, the smallest increase seems to come from those with the most to gain

Rightmove Report 9 Million Reasons for Optimism

Twelve months ago, the pandemic started wreaking havoc on these shores, forcing UK citizens to work remotely throughout a trilogy of nationwide lockdowns.

Protection from Paint

Usually when we are thinking of decorating our homes, we pick up paint swatches from our DIY store, so we can decide between various shades of the same basic colour, all with names like ‘Emerald Blanket’ and ‘Lizard’s Tail’. Now, we may start selecting our wall paint based on its health benefits.

Planning Reform Included in Queen’s Speech

The Queen’s Speech signalled a major shake-up of processes in the property industry, with ground rent and building safety reforms being somewhat overshadowed by the controversial Planning Bill, set to modernise the planning process. But not everyone is on board.

Post-Pandemic PropTech – It’s Here to Stay

PropTech received a surge in interest during periods of lockdown, as contactless solutions became essential. As we prepare for a return to ‘normality’, PropTech seems to have become part of the furniture, having usurped antiquated processes, subsequently winning over an initially resistant industry.

Proptech Set to Shine in 2021

PropertyMe has collated Proptech predictions for 2021 from five experts, noting that with Proptech start-ups benefiting from over $43 billion in funding since 2012, it could be set for a defining year. So, how can Proptech kickstart a tumultuous decade?

Record-breaking Bitcoin Investment to Help Blockchain Become Blockbuster

Dubai-based Khurram Shroff, chairman of IBC Group, has invested 100,000 Bitcoin (currently worth an eye-watering $4.8 billion) to create the Miami 2.0 Blockchain Strategy Foundation, among other joint ventures, marking the biggest Bitcoin investment in history.

Planning for the People with Place Score

We all want to feel like we are part of a community, but how often do we feel our voice is really heard? Enter Place Score: a groundbreaking tool that captures human-centric data to help governments, local authorities and developers design neighbourhoods with the residents’ input at the forefront of decisions.

Neighbours vs Coronation Street – Property Prices of Soap Streets Compared

Property platform Boomin has identified the soap with highest property price growth, as well as which resident stands the best chance of becoming a property mogul!

Monthly Quiz Answers - March

With the Oscars recently in the bag, can you name the films that starred these iconic houses?

Pandemic Makes PropTech Impossible to Ignore

Just as FinTech companies cashed in on the uncertainty, distrust and anger at established financial systems in the wake of the 2007-08 crisis, PropTech companies could be set for a similar redefining role in the post-COVID property industry.‍

New Home Quality Board to Set New Standards for Housebuilders

The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) has been launched to introduce a new code of practice on how “homes are built and sold and how customers are treated”. So, what does this mean for the Consumer Code for Home Builders?

Monthly Quiz Answers - May

Name the TV shows these famous homes appeared in.

New Homes Quality Board Launch Consultation of New Code of Practice

The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) has shared the details of its new Code of practice, which is designed to address the shortcomings of existing Consumer Codes and is open for public consultation. Find out when it is expected to come into play and how Classic Folios can help you make the transition by reading on.

More, More, Mor(tgage)

Financial Reporter has highlighted figures from Twenty7Tec that show a 26.7% increase in searches for standard residential mortgages, between February and March, offering more evidence of a strong post-pandemic market.

Monthly Quiz Answers

Check here to see how you fared in this month's brain teaser!

Monthly Quiz Answers - July

Who performed these home-based songs?

Like, Comment and Buy a New House on Facebook

In almost 16 years, Facebook has changed from a way for teenagers to plan trips to town and cast a wider social net than they would know what to do with to a commercial powerhouse that is rife with targeted advertising and occasional photos of people you no longer recognise. Now, users can search for properties to buy or rent through Facebook Marketplace, with property portals such as OnTheMarket using it to advertise homes. With almost 45 million Facebook users in the UK, the expansion of Marketplace from seller of sofas to purveyor of properties is sure to have invited attention from the offices of Zoopla and Rightmove; however, with Zoopla drawing 50 million visits per month and Rightmove 127.5 million, it is unlikely they will be usurped overnight. That being said, developers looking to advertise new builds may feel inclined to embrace the platform to maximise their reach.

Monthly Musings - March

Straight from MIPIM, Managing Director David Graydon shares his thoughts on the key issues facing the property industry this month.

Large Developers Warned About Increasing Government Scrutiny

Derek Gemmell, Partner and Head of Construction and Property at Anderson Anderson & Brown (AAB), has criticised the lack of clarity around the proposed new Residential Property Developer Tax (RPDT) on large developers to raise funds to address unsafe cladding on existing buildings, while warning developers that they need to remain vigilant as new taxes, penalties and restrictions are introduced by the Government.

May Round-up - ESG, Net Zero and the Spaciable Spread

From ESG Conferences to the spread of PropTech, Managing Director David Graydon shares his thoughts on the key issues facing the property industry this month.

July Round-up - Climate Change, Future Homes and Customer Care Culture

Soaring temperatures have prompted plenty of talk about climate change, while first time buyers continue to be outpriced. But there is reason for optimism!

Land Ahoy! Developers Competing for Limited Residential Land Supply

A shortage of land has led to developers getting increasingly competitive for medium and large scale schemes, with a number of developers citing the availability of land as the most pressing issue for the next quarter.

Monthly Musings

Managing Director David Graydon shares hot topics for the month ahead - from lorries to space houses!

In Space, No-one Can Hear You…Build?

Co-founder of SAGA, architect Sebastian Aristotelis has taken a starry-eyed approach to his profession, setting his sights on space architecture. But what are the logistics and can they be applied to more down-to-Earth projects?

How to Approach Climate Tech in the Office

As vital as it is to give home users the tools they need to make the most of the sustainable features in their home, it is equally important to practice what you preach, and ensure your offices are as efficient as the homes you build.

How to Add Value to Your Homes

What are the biggest turn-ons and turn-offs when it comes to home design? Hammonds Furniture has delved into the question of what adds value to a home and revealed some interesting results.

How Will Materials Shortages Affect 2022?

Effectively putting numerous projects on hold, the heightened interest in home improvement during the pandemic, a deficit of around 100,000 lorry drivers in the UK, increased labour rates and the continued impact of Brexit and COVID-19 on imports have met in a perfect storm of disruption, giving homebuilders costly headaches. But will it continue in 2022?

How Ethical is Ethical Investing?

Home REIT, a real estate investment trust, is planning to let accommodation on 20-30 year leases to charities, housing associations and other regulated organisations that receive housing benefit from the local or central government to provide accommodation for the homeless, while aiming to provide a return of 7.5% per annum to investors over the medium term.

How Great Customer Service Can Save You Time and Money

Improving your customer service is one of the most impactful ways to save time and money, while enhancing your market position. There are a number of ways to do this and we can show you how.

House Prices Rise but Slowdown Looms

Rightmove report shows increases across the board: Average prices up 9% - Number of sellers up 13% - Completion time up 50 days - So how do we achieve a harmonious market?

Hotel Offers Living Space

With Virgin Hotels developing a 40 storey hotel in Miami, 15 floors of which will offer furnished residential spaces, are mixed use, co-living developments becoming a popular alternative to apartment buildings?

Homebuyers Prioritise Sustainability According to HBF Research

In the course of seven years, homebuyers’ priorities have changed from location to sustainability, with conscientious customers swotting up on EPCs.

Home Tours Go Viral

London-based property developer, Avanton, embraces Tik Tok to market apartments to a new generation of buyers.

Healthy Eco Homes of the Future – How We Get There

With developers under unprecedented pressure to build sustainably, and many working towards net-zero targets, it can be tempting to prioritise this above all else.

Green Ambitions – Trendsetting Eco Buildings

The built environment could start to look a lot different over the next few decades, as a new era of architecture could be imminent. Take a look at some of the world's leading sustainable build projects.

Help to Buy 2.0 Open for Business

First-time buyers can now apply for the new Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme, to get on the property ladder with a new-build home, with the new scheme building on recent Government efforts to create more homeowners.

Government Allocate £57.8m to Councils for Brownfield Projects

The Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has allocated a share of £57.8 million from the Brownfield Land Release Fund to over 50 councils in a bid to prioritise building on previously developed land.

New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey Reveals Need for Improved Customer Service in Home Building Industry

In light of some recent bad press concerning the customer service of some national developers, it is worth reminding ourselves of the value of a customer who feels genuinely cared for.

Google Parent Company Receives Green Light for Green Living

TechCrunch has reported that Alphabet Inc.’s urban innovation subsidiary, Sidewalk Labs, is set to proceed with its smart city development on the Toronto waterfront, despite backlash from a public wary of the company’s use of personal data. Why? Because Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of data consumer en masse, Google.

GoodBuy Generation Rent

Boris Johnson has elaborated on his plan to create new homeowners through long-term fixed-rate mortgages, as first proposed in last November’s Conservative election manifesto, in a bid to change ‘Generation Rent’ to ‘Generation Buy’.

UK and Danish Lenders Offer Long-Term Mortgages to Boost Homeownership Amid Economic Uncertainty

News from Scandinavia with implications on lenders and spenders rubs off on UK mortgagees, as long-term, fixed rate, low interest loans are offered to buyers. Is this good news for buyers or worrying news for the economy?

Five Top Customer Care Tips for New Homebuilders

With 86% of buyers willing to pay more for a better customer experience, it has never been more important for homebuilders to deliver excellent customer care.

Annabel MacKenzie

Five Houses That Ooze Supernatural-Chic

They may not be much good for a decent night's sleep but these five houses feature some inspired design choices that could be due a renaissance in new builds.

From Investment to Adoption – PropTech is Now Driving the Industry Forward

The past few years has seen much written about the potential of PropTech and the significant investment in the development of technology. Now we are seeing the first signs of the property industry’s mentality towards technology having drastically changed. Data showing increases in investment is now data showing increases in adoption, as technology drives the industry into a new era.

Block Management Sector Code Set to Establish Best Practice For Managing Agents

RICS and The Property Ombudsman (TPO) have jointly launched a consultation on the Block Management Sector Code, as managing agents, homeowners and tenants are invited to give input on a series of standards and principles that are designed to improve professionalism within the sector.

England to Lead the Charge for EV Points

New legislation is set to be introduced by the Government that will make it compulsory for all new build homes and offices to incorporate electric vehicle (EV) charging points that can automatically charge vehicles during off-peak windows, giving developers food for thought when it comes to making parking provisions for new developments.

Leading the Way in Sustainable Living: Hacer's Biophilic Development Embraces Farming

At a time when so many sectors are under scrutiny for the detrimental impact their practices will have on future generations, it’s encouraging to see members of our industry embracing creative solutions to combat the environmental crisis, with urban farming proving the sky truly is the limit for sustainable living.

Five Key Takeaways From the Resi ESG Conference

The Resi ESG conference took place in London at the beginning of May. Here, we have outlined five of the most significant messages from the conference, supported by alarming statistics, showing that immediate action is needed from everyone involved.

Energy Efficiency Figures Show Two Sides of the Coin

Inside Housing has reported that between October and December last year, 84% of new builds in England and 87% in Wales, received an energy efficiency rating of A or B – the two highest grades, while only 3% of existing buildings in England had a rating of B, showing the chasm between new builds and those predating energy efficiency regulations

COVID-19 Summary for Businesses and Next Steps

I hope this finds you well in these trying times. We all like to think we are well-prepared to deal with the challenges thrown at us by the business landscape but then something like COVID-19 tears up the rulebook

CLASSIC FOLIOS LAUNCHES NEW PRODUCT TO ENABLE A FASTER CONVEYANCING PROCESS

Within the industry, we are all collectively aware of the pressure on the conveyance process which has increased by 12% last year due to the extremely high level of transactions in the housing sector over the past year. To digitalise, streamline and enable a faster sales process, at CLASSIC FOLIOS, we decided to create a new effective solution to relieve some of the strain that the housing market is facing in these challenging times.

Developers Affected By Crossrail

Developers working on projects on the Elizabeth Line can be forgiven for looking through their hands at any news mentioning Crossrail, as positive progress updates seem to be diluted by concerns or threats to the high capacity railway.

Coronavirus Hits Housing Market

The wave of momentum that followed the general election and relative closure to the Brexit saga is already feeling like a distant memory, with the coronavirus outbreak wreaking havoc on a multitude of industries.

How the Property Industry Can Influence Home Users to Combat Climate Change

Climate change is a term we hear regularly but to get to the heart of what we should be doing about it, we need to step back and remind ourselves what it actually means.

Building Towards a Better Future…In Principle

It’s clear that the property industry is going to be integral to the post-COVID recovery.

Budding Buyers Buoyed By First Homes Scheme

In a bid to create more homeowners, the Government has proposed First Homes – a new scheme that will provide new build homes for local residents at a 30% market discount rate.

Artistic Collective Forms Housing Co-operative in a Bid to Become London Homeowners

Artistic collective forms housing co-operative to buy the converted pub they rent.

Bellway’s Future Home Could Be the Blueprint for Eco Living

Bellway has started work on the experience Future Home, being built in an environmental chamber that can replicate over 95% of the world’s climatic conditions.