Housing Unpacked

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 supply‑side inflation shock, why bond investors still see the UK as a risk, what that means for mortgage rates, and the competing pressures on the Bank of England. The discussion also examines whether an internal challenge or the bond market is more likely to bring Keir Starmer’s premiership to a premature end.⁠Subscribe⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.

Michael Brown, a market strategist at Pepperstone who analyses rates, swaps and geopolitics. He discusses the Bank of England’s surprising hawkish signal and how it sent swap rates soaring. He talks about Middle East conflict fallout, energy routes shaping inflation, and why mortgage fix choices and UK borrowing costs now hinge on fast‑moving geopolitical and market shocks.

James Nation, former Treasury special adviser and deputy head of the Number 10 Policy Unit now at Forefront Advisors, joins to unpack how Middle East conflicts and energy shocks complicate UK politics. He discusses 2022 lessons on price caps, how market monitoring shapes fiscal choices, risks to fiscal headroom, mortgage rate unpredictability, and the pressures around the autumn Budget and housing ambitions.

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 Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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’s enduring resilience as a global city, with Mike explaining why super‑prime residential demand remains steady but slower to convert, and how long‑term stability matters as much as tax tweaks for investors. Finally, he shares when Almacantar may feel ready to buy its next site.Subscribe⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠.

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 political jitters in Westminster are still rattling gilt markets. All of it feeds directly into mortgage pricing, the timing of Bank of England rate cuts, and what buyers and sellers should expect in the months ahead.Subscribe⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠.

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 discusses why housing delivery has stalled, how the regulatory burden and taxation are undermining viability, and why restoring confidence and the “feelgood factor” is critical for the market. Rob also reflects on his career at Berkeley, the legacy of founder Tony Pidgley, and how the company’s culture of regeneration, placemaking and long-term investment continues to shape its approach today.Subscribe to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by Ollie Peart at ⁠Rethink Audio⁠.

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 Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio.

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 Bank of England is likely to do next, and why political risk may be the biggest story of 2026.⁠Subscribe⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio.

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 upfront and pushes major tax increases into the later years of the Parliament - plus the emoji that Nimesh chooses to sum it all up.⁠Subscribe⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by Ollie Peart at Rethink Audio.