Housing Unpacked

In this episode of  Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill is joined by Alex Webster, Head of Lending at Coutts, for a discussion about wealth, lending and property at a time when political uncertainty and market volatility have become part of everyday life. With speculation mounting over tax policy, interest rates and the economic outlook, Alex explains why many wealthy buyers are continuing to transact and...

What would a Burnham premiership mean in practice? Tom is joined by former Treasury special adviser James Nation to explore which policies will remain longer-term ambitions, and what is realistically deliverable in the near term. Will a coronation create legitimacy concerns? Is an emergency Budget needed? And with fiscal wriggle room tight, who becomes Chancellor and how difficult is the job they...

After decades being shaped by global investors and rapid price growth, today’s market is more price-sensitive and domestically-driven. In this episode of  Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill speaks with Anthony Payne, CEO and co-founder of LonRes, to examine what’s happening at the top end of London’s residential market. They discuss what LonRes data reveals about prices and transaction volumes across dif...

Tom is joined by Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money, to unpack the political shockwaves around Andy Burnham’s attempt to become an MP, the growing tension between government policy and bond markets, and what it means for mortgages and property prices. With inflation risks building from energy disruption and markets wary of looser fiscal policy, they explore why mortgage rates may stay higher for lo...

On this episode of  Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill is joined by Peter Murray OBE, co‑founder of New London Architecture, founder of the London Festival of Architecture and a former design adviser to two London Mayors. As he prepares his own run for London Mayor in 2028 as an independent, Murray explains the tipping point behind his decision to enter politics, driven by what he sees as a lack of under...

In this episode of  Housing Unpacked , Tom is joined by Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of mortgages at buy-to-let specialist lender Paragon Bank to explore the Renters’ Rights Act and what it really means for landlords and tenants. They discuss her involvement lobbying two separate governments on issues like the end of Section 21, the shift to periodic tenancies, tighter controls around asking...

If it holds, the Middle East ceasefire will boost activity in the housing market as spring gets underway, but it hasn’t removed the pressure keeping mortgage rates high. In this episode of  Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill is joined by Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money, to explain why borrowing costs are unlikely to snap back to mid-February levels. They explore how the conflict will create a lasting s...

In this episode, Tom and Michael Brown unpack how the Bank of England’s unexpectedly hawkish messaging last week helped ignite a sharp repricing across markets already rattled by the Middle East conflict, pushing swap rates up by nearly a full percentage point, and exposing the UK’s fragile fiscal backdrop. They explore why the Bank may be fighting the wrong inflation battle and what this means fo...

Tom Bill talks to James Nation on Tuesday 10 March about how the fast‑moving conflict in the Middle East is reshaping UK politics, the inflation landscape, and the housing market. James draws parallels with the 2022 energy shock when he worked in the Treasury and explains how geopolitical instability complicates decisions for the Chancellor and the Bank of England. They discuss the risks to fiscal...

Tom Bill and Pepperstone analyst Michael Brown unpack how the Middle East conflict is rippling through global markets, lifting energy prices, reshaping interest rate expectations and influencing sentiment in the UK economy and housing market. They explore what this means for mortgage rates, the validity of the Spring Statement, and the Bank of England’s next move. Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK...

In this episode, Tom Bill talks with Mike Hussey, CEO of Almacantar, about the real‑world challenges of delivering major schemes in London - from tricky 1960s refurbishments to complex new‑builds on constrained sites. Mike reflects on working with different London mayors, how political interventions can slow projects, and why there is so much misunderstanding around viability. They explore London’...

A fast‑moving start to 2026 sets the tone for this episode as Tom Bill and Pepperstone’s Michael Brown break down a month of relentless global drama and its impact on borrowing costs - from Trump’s tariff brinkmanship and geopolitical flare‑ups to fiscal fears over Japan. We dig into why UK swap rates have risen, how much faith to put in recent UK economic data, why haven demand is rising, and how...

Rob Perrins, Executive Chairman of Berkeley Group, joins Tom Bill to explore the realities behind the government’s housing ambitions, the impact of the Autumn Budget, and what it will really take to deliver 1.5 million homes. With over 30 years at Berkeley, Rob offers a unique perspective on the UK’s planning system and the challenges of delivering homes at scale, particularly in London. He discus...

Former Treasury and No.10 insider James Nation joins Tom Bill to unpack a Budget that has soothed markets but failed to boost Labour’s poll numbers. James talks about how easy it will be to introduce a mansion tax, the politics around an investor visa, and why the next big guessing game might not be related to taxes rises but the identity of the new Chancellor. ⁠Subscribe⁠  to Tom Bill's UK Re...

In this second of three post-Budget specials, Tom Bill is joined by Michael Brown from Pepperstone to unpack a chaotic week for Westminster, the markets and the wider economy. From the unprecedented OBR leak and the Treasury’s credibility problem to front-loaded spending, back-loaded tax rises and why gilt markets may be calm for now, Michael explains what really mattered in the Budget, what the B...

In this Budget Special, Tom Bill is joined by Nimesh Shah, CEO of tax advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, to break down why he sees this as a “once-in-a-generation” Budget, what the new mansion tax signals for future wealth taxation and how the extra 2% on rental income and frozen thresholds squeeze landlords and middle earners. They also discuss whether markets will accept a fiscal plan that spends u...

With tax speculation dominating the headlines, is Prime Central London really stalling or are there opportunities for buyers? Tom Bill speaks to Stuart Bailey, Head of Prime Central London Sales at Knight Frank, about which taxes in the Budget would most impact the market, what buyers should expect in terms of future price growth, how many people are leaving the capital and which areas of London a...

What’s happening behind the scenes as the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility prepare for the 26 November Budget? Tom Bill is joined once again by Michael Brown from Pepperstone to share their insights. From the OBR’s “observation window” to the Treasury’s 11 Bloomberg terminals, Tom and Michael discuss how gilt yields, labour market data, and fiscal headroom are shaping Rachel Reeve...

Carol Lewis, Property Editor of  The Times  and  The Sunday Times , explains how to navigate the flood of property headlines in the run-up to November’s Budget. Carol speaks to Tom about the Treasury’s use of “trial balloon” tax stories, why house price data often looks contradictory, and how readers can distinguish speculation from fact. She also gives a behind-the-scenes view of how the media pr...

Former No.10 policy insider James Nation joins Tom to decode the run-in to the 26 November Budget: OBR round-one forecasts, the 10-year gilt “observation window”, and why a productivity downgrade matters for the property market. We ask how credible this summer’s property tax rumours feel, possible sweeteners, and what a “successful” Budget looks like. Plus: Treasury vs Downing St culture, Labour’s...

This week, head of UK residential research Tom Bill is joined by financial market analyst Michael Brown from Pepperstone to assess the state of property and bond markets ahead of November’s Budget. Borrowing costs have been climbing in recent weeks for a number of reasons that include a lack of credibility on financial markets that the government has a coherent plan. Property taxes have been float...

What would happen if the rich left the UK? In this episode of Intelligence Talks, host Tom Bill is joined by Leslie MacLeod-Miller, CEO of Foreign Investors for Britain to dig into what the governments changes in taxation mean for non-doms, and what the knock on affect could be for the rest of the country. Listen to find out what Leslie thinks needs to happen to keep money in the UK and what impac...

This week; sticky inflation, bond market reactions, and the government's role in the property market. We look at recent economic data showing weak growth and high inflation, and try to unpick the implications for the housing market such as increased supply and mortgage rates, and the challenges faced by policymakers. We also look at the US trade deals and Federal Reserve decisions, providing i...