Press

"The failure to extend the holiday for first-time buyers will undermine the government’s own attempts to kick-start the first-time buyer market across the country. While the new mortgage indemnity scheme may improve the accessibility of mortgage finance to many credit-worthy borrowers, first-time buyers will need to save for longer to fund the stamp duty bill as they move. If the government aimed to stimulate the national first-time buyer market in spite of the wider economic conditions, combining the extension of the stamp duty holiday with the new indemnity scheme would have boosted the chances of a significant increase in first-time buyer activity. In effect, Osborne is giving with one hand, and taking away with the other."

"But the Chancellor has also missed an open goal by failing to address the outdated and iniquitous stamp duty tax system. As things stand, stamp duty is a regional tax rather than a national progressive tax, and buyers in London and the South East must bear the financial brunt of the tax for the simple reason that house prices are higher. This will remain the case for as long as the duty doesn’t take into account the fact that house prices are not uniform across the country. The housing market plays a vital role in supporting the UK’s economic growth, and more equal and progressive tax system - alleviating the pressure on the lower tier of the market across the whole country – would create a busier market. In turn, a healthy housing market would feed the wider economy, boosting demand for supporting industries and creating opportunities for builders, electricians, kitchen manufacturers and plumbers to name but a few."

Marsh & Parsons is proud to sponsor The Rugby Portobello Trust for the fifth year running. This local charity, based in Notting Hill & North Kensington, works with vulnerable and homeless young people in the area aged 5-25, and aims to raise their self-esteem and independence.

The Rugby Portobello Trust, with the help of Marsh & Parsons, are hosting a drinks party & shopping night on Tuesday 22nd November (6-9pm) and a Christmas fair on Wednesday 23rd November (9am-4pm) at the 20th Century Theatre on Westbourne Grove. The event will raise valuable funds for the Trust and is always very popular! For more information, or to purchase a ticket, please visit www.rugbyportobello.org.uk

Marsh & Parsons, the London estate agent, is proud to announce it has won four separate awards at The Negotiator Awards 2011.

Marsh & Parsons was named National Lettings Agency of the Year, Estate Agency Marketing Team of the Year, while Peter Rollings, CEO of Marsh & Parsons, was awarded Estate Agency Leader of the Year. In addition, Marsh & Parsons won the top award as The Supreme Negotiator of the Year.

Companies could not enter themselves in the Supreme Negotiator category. This was both nominated and judged by The Negotiator Awards Academy, fifty of the most knowledgeable and influential figures in the UK’s property industry.

It has been announced today that LSL PS Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LSL Property Services plc, (LSL) has acquired leading London estate and lettings agency, Marsh & Parsons, in a deal worth £50.0m.

The deal will provide LSL with significant opportunities to increase its exposure and growth potential in central London while allowing Marsh & Parsons to continue to flourish as a separate business and brand backed by the investment and support of LSL.

The future strategy for Marsh & Parsons will be to continue to grow both the sales and lettings business across London. Marsh & Parsons already has an impressive growth record which has seen the number of offices double in size and turnover increase fivefold in just six years. Moreover, in 2010 it was the overall winner of the prestigious Sunday Times ‘National Estate Agency of the Year’ Award. All Marsh & Parsons management and staff will be retained and, thus, for existing clients and customers it will be very much business as usual.