Housing Unpacked

A Budget with few surprises, but plenty of implications. Tom is joined by Nimesh Shah, CEO of tax advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, to discuss the latest implications of the so-called mansion tax, why another income tax rise for landlords could ultimately hit tenants, and what the Chancellor’s low-key approach says about the Government’s wider plans. They also explore what has happened since the abo...

Tom is joined by market analyst Michael Brown to make sense of rising mortgage rates that seem to hinge on Donald Trump's next move. They discuss why UK borrowing costs are climbing again, why crude oil is no longer the main problem, but something called the crack spread is, and whether the Bank of England will raise rates on 5 November. They also look ahead to the Budget on 28 October and the...

Tom is joined by James Nation, former special adviser to Rishi Sunak at the Treasury, to unpack the wave of pre-Budget speculation around a lower mansion tax threshold and a possible capital gains tax rise. They discuss why this year's rumours may not be genuine Treasury trial balloons, how much financial headroom John Healey actually needs to rebuild, and which of the widely-touted tax option...

Mortgage rates are rising again, but the conflict in the Middle East is only part of the story. Tom Bill is joined by Helen Thomas of Blonde Money to discuss the global forces putting upward pressure on borrowing costs, from Japan's return to inflation and changes at the Federal Reserve to the financing demands of AI and growing concerns about government debt. They also assess the outlook for...

Ahead of the autumn Budget, Tom Bill is joined by tax specialist James Quarmby to discuss the fallout from the UK's non-dom reforms and why he estimates they have cost the Exchequer £4 billion. They explore what happens when a tax system relies heavily on a small group of highly mobile taxpayers, how behavioural responses can derail fiscal plans, and what options remain for the Treasury as it...

What does Andy Burnham's first fortnight as Prime Minister mean for the housing market? Tom Bill is joined by financial analyst Michael Brown. They discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and the implications for oil prices, inflation and mortgage rates, before examining the Bank of England's next move. The conversation also explores Burnham's early policy announcements, the...

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...