Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

Long Harbour has set out plans to build a 5,000-home rental single-family housing platform in the next five years, with a total GDV of more than £1.5bn. Speaking exclusively to EG's residential reporter Akanksha Soni, Jack Spearman, head of Long Harbour’s single-family housing platform, says the developer has plans to acquire and build more than 1,000 homes a year for its portfolio, which will be operated by its property management brand Way of Life. Sowgol Zarinchang, managing director of Way of Life, also tells EG how she plans to operate the new platform - and the lessons learnt from multifamily.

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and offices reporter Chanté Bohitige for the latest weekly round-up. Bohitige tackles an all-time high for London office move deals, and how a trend for downsizing has played its part in that. Burke shares what ex-Schroders boss and Sellar chair Duncan Owen has to say about dark green leases in this week's EG Interview, and shares Sam McClary's insights into the gender pay gap - and what real estate can learn on that front from Lego. But best of all, the two devoted hip-hop heads add the first tracks to the EG Like Sunday Morning: Certified Bangers Spotify playlist, here to enliven your Sunday afternoons - with more songs to follow each time they appear on EGLSM. Get in on the ground floor at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

Forget thinking about a “green premium” for your top-tier ESG-focused office, says ex-Schroders boss Duncan Owen – the difference between the best and the rest is now a “chasm”. As he took the chair at Sellar, Owen sat down with EG deputy editor Tim Burke at MIPIM for a 40-minute conversation talk about dark green developments, office repricing and the value of making mistakes.

In this latest In on the Act, Sarah Jackman is joined by Daniel Black and Fern Schofield, barristers at Falcon Chambers, to discuss the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations and the changes that took effect on 1 April. They cover the scope of the changes, exemptions, and penalties for non-compliance. They also look ahead to the evolution of the rules, as well as highlighting both legal and commercial issues that landlords and tenants ought to consider.

In the wake of the announced review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 by the Law Commission, Jess Harrold is joined by the leadership of the Property Litigation Association to discuss the findings of the PLA's own survey of its 1,600 members on how the legislation could be improved. Dellah Gilbert, PLA chair and partner at Maples Teesdale, Mark Reading, PLA vice chair and partner at Mishcon de Reya, and Paul Tonkin, chair of the PLA’s law reform committee and partner at Hogan Lovells International, address the broad findings of the survey that the 1954 Act remains broadly fit for purpose and strikes a fair balance for landlords and tenants, and dig into the changes their members would like to see to streamline the process. In addition, they consider more controversial issues, including the role the courts should play in the commercial lease renewal process, and whether the "intention to develop" ground for opposing renewal should be extended to allow ESG works to be carried out.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG news editor Pui-Guan Man presents the second of three EG Interviews, recorded live at EG’s pavilion out at MIPIM this March. This EG Interview is with PfP Capital’s new chief executive Catherine Webster. In this 30-minute listen, hear how Webster has turned 30 years of ashamedly turning a profit for a business into something so much more worthwhile – turning a profit to deliver social value. It is a must listen for anyone in the business of housing and fund management who wants to find a way to become unashamedly capitalist, but for good reasons. You can also read this interview in the 8 April issue of EG Magazine or online at www.egi.co.uk/news 

This week’s episode of Bricks & Mortar brings together two lawyers from Withers Worldwide: construction lawyer Pauline Page and commercial real estate lawyer Ruby Dalal, for a discussion on their careers, the things that have helped them to progress and the joy of working in real estate. They highlight key attributes such as technical knowledge, commercial understanding and people skills and reflect on the importance of resiliance, networking, finding allies and keeping focused. Conversation also turns to how the industry has adapted to the environmental agenda and growth of technology, and how these growing areas have impacted the way that real estate lawyers work. As ever, there is plenty of advice for anyone looking to get inspired and develop a career in the industry.

This episode of the EG Property Podcast features a keynote speech, delivered live at the EG Pavilion at MIPIM 2023. The speech is delivered by investment minister Lord Dominic Johnson, who outlines his position as the UK's concierge for investors, the focus government has on increasing the rate of return for investors in the UK, and why he believes that the country offers some of the best opportunities in the world. It is a lively speech that also serves up an unprompted advert for the very wonderful EG magazine. Enjoy.

In this EG Property Podcast, recorded live from EG’s Pavilion at MIPIM 2023, EG deputy editor Tim Burke is in conversation with George Armitage, managing director for global real estate at Oxford Economics. Recorded on the morning of the UK’s budget announcement the pair discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the economic environment. Listen in as Armitage shares his expert knowledge of the UK economy and its impact on the commercial real estate markets, key trends and challenges facing the sector and reasons we should all save a little bit of optimism for the remainder of the year.  

Piers Wehner plays host again this week, as Jess Harrold swaps seats to tell us all about the long-awaited consultation on the Landlord & Tenant Act. Nearly 70 years old and in need of a refresh. The legislation, that is, not Jess.  Meanwhile, editor Sam McClary joins to discuss the impact of April 1st's EPC changes, plus the government's underwhelming Green Day cover.