Explore every episode of the podcast Housing Unpacked
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Perrins on planning reform, the future of London and hitting the 1.5 million homes target | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:43:14 | |
Rob Perrins, Executive Chairman of Berkeley Group, joins Tom Bill to explore the realities behind the governmentās 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 UKās 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 āfeelgood factorā is critical for the market. Rob also reflects on his career at Berkeley, the legacy of founder Tony Pidgley, and how the companyās culture of regeneration, placemaking and long-term investment continues to shape its approach today. SubscribeĀ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ ā Rethink Audioā . | |||
| Budget Special: James Nation on Property Taxes and Labourās Looming Leadership Crunch | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:47:32 | |
Former Treasury and No.10 insider James Nation joins Tom Bill to unpack a Budget that has soothed markets but failed to boost Labourās 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 bigĀ guessing game might not be related to taxes rises but the identity of the new Chancellor. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| Housing, Inflation and Government Strategies | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:27:52 | |
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 insights into how these factors could affect both the UK and global economies. Host Tom Bill is joined by seasoned financial market analyst Michael Brown from Pepperstone to give some clarity amidst economic uncertainty. SubscribeĀ toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| Budget Special with Michael Brown: The OBR Row, Mixed Market Signals and Rising Risks for the Chancellor | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:35:57 | |
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 Treasuryās 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. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| Budget Special: Nimesh Shah on the Doors The Budget Opened - and the Ones It Bolted | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:31:57 | |
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 āonce-in-a-generationā 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. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| Prime Central London: The reality on the ground ahead of the Budget | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:37:35 | |
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 are back on the radar. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| The £30 Billion Question: What Rachel Reeves Faces Ahead of the November Budget | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:32:37 | |
Whatās 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 OBRās āobservation windowā to the Treasuryās 11 Bloomberg terminals, Tom and Michael discuss how gilt yields, labour market data, and fiscal headroom are shaping Rachel Reevesā options ā and what all of this means for property taxes, mortgage rates, and the housing market. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| Carol Lewis: Headlines, Housing and Hype | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:30:18 | |
Carol Lewis, Property Editor ofĀ The TimesĀ andĀ The Sunday Times, explains how to navigate the flood of property headlines in the run-up to Novemberās Budget. Carol speaks to Tom about the Treasuryās use of ātrial balloonā 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 prepares for Budget day, stressing the journalistās role as messenger rather than market shaper. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ Rethink Audio. | |||
| James Nation: Property Taxes, Pitch-Rolling & Budget Nerves | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:43:49 | |
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 āobservation windowā, and why a productivity downgrade matters for the property market. We ask how credible this summerās property tax rumours feel, possible sweeteners, and what a āsuccessfulā Budget looks like. Plus: Treasury vs Downing St culture, Labourās deputy leadership race and whether Starmer and Reeves are still in post next year. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ ā Rethink Audioā . | |||
| Nerves are spreading through bond and property markets ahead of November Budget | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:25:57 | |
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 Novemberās 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 floated as one solution but some ideas are more convincing than others. Michael offers his own five-point plan for the government to follow in order to regain the trust of markets ā but it would involve some difficult decisions. Whether you are buying, selling, remortgaging or scrolling to see what your house is worth, there are key insights on offer to provide you with the bigger picture. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ ā Rethink Audioā . | |||
| The UK Wealth Exodus with Leslie Macleod-Miller | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:32:59 | |
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 impact tax changes are already having on the UK prime market. ā Subscribeā Ā toĀ Tom Bill'sĀ UK Residential Outlook, forĀ all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by Ollie Peart atĀ ā Rethink Audioā . | |||
| From Mayors to Mega Basements: The Truth About Developing London | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:45:04 | |
In this episode, Tom Bill talks with Mike Hussey, CEO of Almacantar, about the realāworld challenges of delivering major schemes in London - from tricky 1960s refurbishments to complex newābuilds 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 Londonās enduring resilience as a global city, with Mike explaining why superāprime residential demand remains steady but slower to convert, and how longāterm stability matters as much as tax tweaks for investors. Finally, he shares when Almacantar may feel ready to buy its next site. Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data.Produced by ā ā ā Rethink Audioā ā ā . | |||
| Global Drama, Local Consequences: What The Events of 2026 Mean for Your Mortgage | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:32:28 | |
A fastāmoving start to 2026 sets the tone for this episode as Tom Bill and Pepperstoneās Michael Brown break down a month of relentless global drama and its impact on borrowing costs - from Trumpās tariff brinkmanship and geopolitical flareāups 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. Subscribeā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| How the Middle East Conflict Will Impact the UK Housing Market | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:37:15 | |
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 Englandās next move. Subscribeā ā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by ā ā ā ā Rethink Audioā ā ā ā . | |||
| How Global Energy Shocks Will Shape UK Politics, Inflation and the Housing Market | 12 Mar 2026 | 00:45:43 | |
Tom Bill talks to James Nation on Tuesday 10 MarchĀ about how the fastāmoving 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 headroom, the unpredictability of mortgage rates, and the different political and economic scenarios that may play out depending on how long the disruption lasts. The conversation also explores the pressures facing the government ahead of this yearās autumn Budget, the implications for housing policy, and what the coming months may mean for Keir Starmer following Labourās defeat in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election. ā Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| Fighting the Last War: Markets, Mortgages and the Bank of Englandās Hawkish Misfire | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:38:21 | |
In this episode, Tom and Michael Brown unpack how the Bank of Englandās 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 UKās fragile fiscal backdrop. They explore why the Bank may be fighting the wrong inflation battle and what this means for borrowers weighing twoā versus fiveāyear fixes, and why both housing market activity and policy decisions are now hostage to fastāshifting geopolitical and energyāprice risks. ā Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| Middle East Ceasefire to Boost Buyer Sentiment more than Mortgage Market | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:46:20 | |
If it holds, the Middle East ceasefire will boost activity in the housing market as spring gets underway, but it hasnāt removed the pressure keeping mortgage rates high. In this episode ofĀ 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 supplyāside 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 Starmerās premiership to a premature end. ā Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| Burnham, bonds and the mortgage squeeze | 22 May 2026 | 00:45:38 | |
Tom is joined by Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money, to unpack the political shockwaves around Andy Burnhamās 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 longer and what a potential leadership change - or even an early election - could mean for the housing market. Against such a fast-moving backdrop, they explore the merits of fixing a mortgage for two or five years. ā Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| City Hall Has Lost Its Grip on Housing: London Mayoral Candidate Peter Murray | 05 May 2026 | 00:45:56 | |
On this episode ofĀ Housing Unpacked, Tom Bill is joined by Peter Murray OBE, coāfounder 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 understanding in City Hall about the mayorās responsibility to deliver homes, infrastructure and better streets. He sets out his āget stuff doneā philosophy, arguing that housing delivery in London has been choked by uncertainty, slow planning and strained relations with the development sector. Drawing on decades of experience across architecture, journalism and real estate, Murray outlines proposals to accelerate housing delivery, revive SME builders, restore certainty for investors, and bring design back to the top table through a City Architect. The conversation also covers density, tall buildings, affordability, transport reform, road pricing and what a more pragmatic, deliveryāfocused mayor could mean for Londonās future. ā Subscribeā ā to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. | |||
| Rentersā Rights Act: The End of the Hobbyist Landlord? | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:47:03 | |
In this episode ofĀ Housing Unpacked, Tom is joined by Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of mortgages at buy-to-let specialist lender Paragon Bank to explore the Rentersā 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 rents, and why wellāintentioned reforms may squeeze supply, push rents higher, and disadvantage more vulnerable renters. The conversation also explores the recent mortgage market shock caused by the Middle East conflict and the looming challenge of meeting new energy efficiency standards. | |||