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March Round-up - NHQB Interview, Canadian Oversea Buyer Ban, Tenant Satisfaction Measures and the Spring Budget
That’s Q1 in the bag! As expected, it’s been a challenging start to the year for many reasons but we are starting to see green shoots of industry activity that hints at a progressively optimistic few months ahead. That being said, the Spring Budget did little to amplify this, with no support offered to homebuilders. Our recent blog takes a look at what the Budget means for the industry – SMEs in particular – and what actions can be take to lobby for better backing from the government.
Meanwhile, Canada has taken an extreme approach to combat affordability issues hindering their property market, by imposing a ban on overseas buyers. We decided to dive into this controversial issue to discuss potential repercussions and ponder whether this approach could be replicated in the London market, despite its longstanding appeal to international investors.
You may have seen some mentions of Spaciable Living – our resident engagement app. The first pilot schemes are underway and early impression have been very positive. With social housing providers required to collect data on Tenant Satisfaction Measures from April 1st, Spaciable Living’s building management and community-building features are of particular interest to local authorities and housing associations. Our blog on how social housing providers can turn developments into thriving communities has some great tips on how HAs and LAs can provide a positive environment for tenants in anticipation of increasing scrutiny.
One of the positives to come out of Q1 was our accreditation by the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB), who recognised us as being “among some of the industry’s best assets in providing transparency and quality in customer content.” With the NHQB set to cover 70-80% of all new homes built annually, we sat down with Industry Engagement Manager, Andrew Preece, to discuss what the New Homes Quality Code means for developers.
On the topic of customer care, I have some exciting personal news, as I have become the new owner of Karen’s Diner in Islington. If you’re not familiar with the brand, Karen’s is famous for its sassy service – certainly a very different type of customer service to that which we pride ourselves on at Classic Folios and Spaciable! So, if you’re in the Islington area, swing by for some delicious food and cocktails – I just can’t promise a friendly face serving your meal!
