I read with interest in Estate Agent Today the following regarding Stamp Duty:-

Senior MPs clashed in the House of Commons this week over how best to reform Stamp Duty.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is rumoured to be considering a Stamp Duty overhaul in her Autumn Budget next month.

This may include a new national property tax on sellers or even charging capital gains tax on higher-value homes.

However, the Conservatives used an Opposition Day debate to reiterate the party’s pledge to scrap the tax and urge the Treasury to reveal how it will ‘ungum’ the housing market.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said, “It doesn’t have to be like this”

“We can reduce taxes if we get on top of public spending. At my party conference, we set out £47billion of savings across the government, including £23billion in savings across the Welfare budget.

“What did the Government do when it tried to tackle the welfare budget?

“They showed us that this is a Dad’s Army of Government with a Captain Mainwaring of a Chancellor – no match even for the rabble behind them.

“We know that we need to have responsible tax cuts. That means they need to be funded and they need to lean into growth, and that is why we have announced that, were we in government, we would be abolishing stamp duty on primary residences”

However, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray hit back, labelling the Tories’ plan to axe Stamp Duty as “half-baked and from the "ghost of Liz Truss”

If you would like further information re the current property market, call David Phillip FRICS, who has over 40 years of experience selling homes and has one of the best understandings of Property in North Leeds

If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal, please call
David Phillip Estate Agents on 0113 4676400.
86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, LS16 9AN w:davidphillip.co.uk
David Phillip Estate Agents, selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel,
Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley.

Then don’t miss this key selling date

If you are looking to sell your home before Christmas, then Thursday 23 rd October could be a key selling date according to new analysis from The Home Owners Alliance.

The cut-off point is the 3rd week of October

Using data from their Best Estate Agent Finder tool, the Alliance found that it currently takes an average of 58 days to sell a home (although recently David Phillip Estate Agents have sold on Sandy Walk and Parklands in Bramhope in just over a week!), which means that the cut-off point for completion is around the third week of October.

Leeds' average sale is 52 days

However, the time to sell can vary widely by regio,n ranging from 32 to 71 days – this highlights the need for local market awareness and early action with your Estate Agent. Leeds currently has an average time of 52 days to sell a property.

Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of The Home Owner’s Alliance (HOA) said “with leaves falling and Christmas ads already creeping onto our screens, it may feel early to mention the big day – but if moving home is on your wish list, the clock is ticking. The last day to list your property to be in with a chance of an agreed sale before Christmas is 23rd October.

David Phillip, Number one for Sales*

HOA is currently advising homeowners thinking of selling their home to get ahead of the game by inviting the top-performing agents to value their home – we are constantly looking at Rightmove Plus and in the whole of LS16, David Phillip Estate Agents currently hold the Number one position for the Highest number of sales!

David Phillip commented, “October is supposed to be a quiet month; however, we have already sold five properties in the Bramhope area. There are still genuine home sellers and buyers looking to sell their homes before Christmas in preparation for 2026 plans”

Take a look

Take a look at the properties we are launching before October 23rd - 14, Parklands Crescent,
1, Adel Manor Gardens and 6 North Mead - these will soon be available to view on the
property portals and www.davidphillip.co.uk

If you are considering selling your home before Christmas and would like a free market
appraisal with David Phillip FRICS please call 0113 4676400.
Selling homes in Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale,
Alwoodley and North Leeds.

*first in LS16 from 8th to 14th October according to Rightmove plus

16th October 2025

World Values Day is an annual campaign to increase the awareness and practice of values around the world. Values are increasingly the focus of public debate and discussion, but their role in our lives and their importance for our well-being are not always understood. Values are what make us who we are; they are the moral compass guiding everything we do – our choices and our actions.

World Values Day

World Values Day provides an opportunity to think about our most deeply held values and explore and
act on them with other individuals, groups and organisations.
At David Phillip Estate agents, we have our unique set by which we proudly stand:-

• We are passionate about our customers and their opinions of us – our business flourishes
  because of them.
• We are obsessive about keeping promises and the communications we make – we do not let
  people down.
• We are dedicated to providing the best cutting-edge immersive technology and an end-to-end
  customer experience.
• We are an open book – what you see is what you get – we have honesty and integrity in spades.
• We like to do things differently, are willing to try new things and love to be disruptive.
• We love being part of a community, we are interested in its people and supportive of its
  activities.

Clean sweep of 5-star reviews

Take a look at our clean sweep of 5-star customer reviews on @allagents (4 in the last week or so!).
Read what our clients are saying about us, and our values are very much holding true. Plus, David Phillip is
a chartered surveyor (FRICS) which is a qualification not many Agents can boast of having.

So … If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal, please call
David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400 w: davidPhillip.co.uk a: 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds
Selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale,
Alwoodley and Otley

A cleverly extended and beautifully renovated detached family home enjoying a secluded setting in a highly popular residential area. Featuring four bedrooms, four bathrooms and flexible ground floor space. Superbly reconfigured open plan living family kitchen with cinema area. A mature good sized garden to the rear with planted boarders and timber decking.To view contact 0113 4676400

Kemi Badenoch has surprised the party conference by pledging to abolish stamp duty if they regain office and they win the next election.

We know who our people are

She told delegates at the end of the conference today in Manchester “As the Conservative party, we know who our people are. They are people who work hard, they are the people who play hard they are the people who understand the importance of putting down roots.

“They are the people who make sacrifices today for a better life They are also people who want to own their own home”

She said stamp duty was a bad tax, adding “we must free up our housing market, because a society where no -one can afford to buy, or move is a society where social mobility is dead She said she considered moving the threshold but decided against that. The abolition idea has been welcomed by some within the industry.

Immediate impact

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla commented “Stamp duty hits four in five homeowners and two in five first-time-buyers across the country, especially in Southern England where 60% of all stamp duty is paid. We welcome any proposals that removes the financial barriers to moving home. More home moves support would support economic growth and the ambition to build more homes”

David Phillip commented “to gain an immediate impact on the Housing market, Stamp duty is the one lever that would also have much wider repercussions for the wider economy. It may result in an initial halt in property sales though if the Tories were leading the polls prior to Election, resulting in potential sellers delaying their property completion. The property market would welcome any positive moves regarding Stamp Duty”

If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal with David Phillip FRICS please call 0113 4676400.

86, Leeds road, Bramhope w:davidphillip.co.uk
Selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in Wharfedale, Alwoodley and Otley.

The disconnect between what buyers and sellers want from their Agent and what they experience isn’t what they want research has shown.
iamproperty revealed that only a third of vendors recommended their agents following their property experience - this is truly shocking.

Commitment is the most important factor

Commitment from the other party is seen as the most important factor in a successful property transaction. With 93% of parties seeing this as higher than any other element, the survey of 353 respondents across the UK showed.

When asked what else mattered most, respondents pointed to:-

• Sale certainty (90%)
• Better communication (89%)
• A faster process (87%)
• Minimal stress (84%)
• Control (79%)
• A simple and easy-to-understand process (88%)

Jamie Cooke, co-founder of iamproperty, said "the findings demonstrate a clear opportunity for agents to strengthen their client relationships, build trust and win recommendations by tackling the issues that matter most." "For Agents the gap is a chance to stand out."

At David Phillip Estate agents we are not surprised at the results of the above survey. We already do the following to help remove the frustration of our clients:-

• Commitment: When we agree a sale, we don’t just sell to the highest buyer. The position of the purchaser is key, as is checking all the relevant funding and their commitment. Our due-diligence is an important part of the overall process. All these factors also have a big impact in the sale certainty too.
• Better communication: This is key to us. Apart from regular communications by phone and e-mail, we also use Property File, the portal that updates vendors on Feedback, all communication and the sales process once the sale is completed.
• A faster process: We are extremely agile from the moment you call to make an appointment right through to completion. Sometimes we deal with solicitors who are woeful, but at David Phillip Estate Agents we always recommend the most proactive solicitors in the North Leeds area.
• Minimal stress and an easy and straightforward approach: Buying and selling your home is one of the biggest financial and emotional transactions you will make. It needs to be as straightforward as possible - you are paying us to take the stress from you. We have great communication methods (never have a call centre). We believe in a dedication person dealing with your sale from start to finish is a much more personal and professional approach.

This is what our clients have been saying

And… don’t just take our word for it, this is what our clients have been saying about the David Phillip Customer Experience – below are 5-star client reviews received in the last four weeks:-

‘David and his team, Lesa and Annabel were absolutely fantastic! I found them to be
friendly and professional at all times. I would definitely recommend them to sell your
house.’ – thank you Jeanette - Bramhope

‘From start to finish, the whole experience has been excellent. If you’re looking at a local
agent , then look no further than David Phillip. Lesa’s attention to detail is second to
none, Annabel, it was a pleasure dealing with you.’ – thank you Sharon- Bramhope

‘Second time I’ve used David Phillip to sell a property. Very easy communication, very
professional and knowledgeable. They go above and beyond to make sure every detail
is addressed … I will use them again in the future.’ – thank you P Edmunds - Horsforth

‘Proactive and Professional, I recently had the pleasure of dealing with Annabel whilst
selling a house … she was tenacious seeing the sale through whilst we waited for a
complicated chain to mover forwards … I would use David Phillip again.’ – thank you
Peter – Alwoodley.

The above reviews show just how important the customer experience is to us, with all of the above either being repeat business, would recommend us or would use us again!
If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal with David Phillip FRICS call 0113 467640

David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN
w: davidphillip.co.uk
Selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-
Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley.

The property Portal on the Market found that if you live on a street with a name that is regal or titled, such as Royal, Place, Lord and Bishop it can boost the value of their homes lining their pavements.

Nearly one in 10 house hunters are willing to pay a premium for a property located on a street with such a prefix, this suggests that it is not only the reputation of the village or the town that can add value to a property

In a survey, of one thousand house-buyers across the UK, 14% said they consider paying more for a
property that featured the prefix Royal in the street name, with King 7% and Queen 6% as the
second and third prefixes with the potential to demand a higher asking price.
According to 37% of the people asked, king, Queen, Crown and Palace all appear in the top street
names that home-owners believe add gravitas to a property.

David Phillip said “there is no doubt that location is one of the most important elements when
buying a new home, but it is interesting that a prestigious sounding street name can help to
influence price and worth”

We are very lucky in Bramhope to have Kings Road on the edge of the lovely village. At David Phillip
Estate Agents, we have already sold properties in this sought after area and have a further property
to sell.

Number 1A Kings Road, with 5 bedrooms, a spectacular living family dining kitchen, plus a further 2 reception rooms and a large South West facing garden plus paddock.
The property is on the market at £750,000.

To view this lovely property call 0113 4676400 w: davidphillip.co.uk 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope.
David Phillip Estate Agents, selling homes in North Leeds, Bramhope, adel, Cookridge, Alwoodley and
Pool-in-Wharfedale.

#king #drive #onthemarket #bramhope #property # forsale #early viewing       

The school summer holidays are well underway and people are now thinking about an Autumn home move.

September could be a great time to sell

Knowing when to put your property on the market can be a tough decision, but if you are looking for a pre-Christmas move, then September could be the best time to sell

• Schools' admission deadlines take place at the end of January/beginning of February. If you market your property in September, this gives a buyer potentially time to move into their preferred school catchment area in time. This is a key driver for people potentially moving to Bramhope – the primary school is Ofsted-rated outstanding!
• Once school summer holidays are behind us, people have time to focus more on moving home and starting up the selling process again.
• You could be celebrating Christmas with your family and friends in your new home. The Christmas deadline is a big driver for when properties are launched.
• Gardens are still looking lovely in early September. Once the leaves start to fall off the trees, this provides potential viewers with even better views. If you live in North Leeds, this is something really positive.
• Gardens are still glowing with flowers in full bloom, so still very photogenic.
• The evenings are still light until early October, making viewings easier to arrange.
• During September, people use the New Year as a goal for being determined to move by.

September could be a successful choice

There can be many contributing factors that determine the best time to sell your home, but September could be quite a successful choice.

So if you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal with David Phillip FRICS call  0113 4676400

W: davidphillip.co.uk  A: David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9AN

Selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in- Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley

David Phillip FRICS is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This is the highest level of membership within the RICS. This signifies that he has achieved significant professional accomplishments and leadership in the surveying profession.

FRICS members are recognised for their expertise, experience and contributions to the field of property, land and construction. It is a prestigious designation, highlighting the individual’s exceptional achievements and contributions to the surveying profession.

While MRICS (Member of the Royal institution of Chartered Surveyors) is a standard professional membership, FRICS represents a higher level of recognition. This is reserved for those who have made exceptional contributions.

So, if you are considering selling your home, ensure that you choose an Estate Agency that has accredited personnel, who fully understand the full nature of the property industry – Call David Phillip FRICS on 0113 4676400

David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, North Leeds, LS16 9AN

Selling homes in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Cookridge, Adel, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley    

At David Phillip Estate Agents, we watched with interest the BBC Panorama investigation aired on Monday night, which revealed potentially some startling behaviour at two of the well-known UK Estate Agency brands.

In the episode titled ’Undercover Estate Agent’, reporter Lucy Vallance went undercover for six weeks as a sales negotiator at an Estate agent in the UK, and discovered that, in over interests in other potential purchasers, the company was favouring buyers who were taking out mortgages brokered by the company itself.

Vallance also spoke with a whistleblower where “staff were under pressure to sell add-on services and were incentivised by a commission scheme to get sellers to drop their house prices”, allegedly, after a potentially inflated valuation was given to win instructions.

Propertymark breaks the silence after the Panorama Investigation

Various Estate Agents have voiced opinions on the programme, and Propertymark have now issued a response”

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, commented, “Agents must provide a full duty of care and ensure impartiality to all participants throughout the entire sales and transactional process. Buyers and sellers must have the freedom to choose products and services that meet their needs and preferences.

“It is important that agents display an understanding of the impact of the key factors which interact with the buying and selling process. This includes areas such a contract law, conveyancing and the mortgage application process”.

Full due diligence on all parties

“Agents must adhere to the terms of undertaking full due diligence on all parties, such as compliance, anti-money laundering regulations, proof of funds and the ability to purchase. They can offer to introduce services which provide the appropriate advice and products, but there must be full transparency and absolutely no conflict of interest”.

“Due to continuous progression within many areas of law, the housing sector has far greater levels of consumer protection in place than at any point previously, and these standards are constantly evaluated and evolved to ensure they remain fit for purpose”.

“Should anyone feel a service offered to them might fall short on standards, they can raise a case with organisations such as Trading Standards, The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress scheme, as well as the organisation's own internal complaints procedures”.

The Customer Experience is key

At David Phillip Estate Agents, the Customer experience is key, and we have a clean sweep of 5-star reviews on All Agents (the Estate Agent industry's main referral site) that reflect the service we provide our clients. 

Our role is to link vendors of properties to purchasers, and to this end, we take our responsibility very seriously. The industry has various best practices in place; below are some of the practices we adhere to ensure we are fully compliant.

• We do have a full written complaints procedure in place, should any client be less than happy with our service with all complaints responded to in a specified time frame.
• The Property Ombudsman, of which we are members, have a Code of Practice which is a set of rules and guidelines that Estate Agents, who are members, must adhere to. It aims to ensure fair, transparent and professional practices in the property industry. The code covers areas such as fair treatment, accurate marketing, transparent fees and handling complaints.
• We are fully compliant with the Government’s anti-money laundering rules and regulations, and we pay to be part of this
• We are members of Smart Search to ensure further checks are in place around money laundering.
• We have stringent onboarding procedures and always ensure full due diligence once a property has received an offer received especially in terms of proof of funding and affordability.
• We do work in partnership with various product providers covering mortgages, conveyancing and surveys, although we recommend them; ultimately, our clients choose who they use. 
• Our CRM  (customer relationship manager) system is Alto, which is owned by Zoopla and one of the best client portals in the industry. We are particularly careful with people’s data, but Alto also holds information on the progression of every client interaction with our company – this provides a fully transparent process.
• Property file allows both buyers and sellers to view their overall sales procedure. We have regular reviews and any issues during the sale are dealt with head-on and in the most transparent way possible.
• David Phillip FRICS has valued properties in North and West Yorkshire for over 40 years. He prides himself on providing the most accurate valuation possible - we do not overvalue to win instructions, but provide a competitive but realistic valuation on every market appraisal we attend. We do know that some agents may overvalue to win the instruction, but this doesn’t do the vendors any favours, as ultimately, they may need to reduce the price of their property in the long run.

David Phillip FRICS

David Phillip is FRICS qualified – Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – this is the highest membership within the RICS., signifying that the individual has achieved significant professional accomplishments and leadership in the surveying profession. FRICS members are recognised for their expertise, experience and contributions to the field of property land and construction – when you are choosing an Estate Agent to sell your home, find out if they hold this qualification.

So if you are considering selling your home and would like a Free Market Appraisal, choose and Estate Agent you can be confident will provide a 5 star professional service- call 0113 4676400

David Phillip Estate Agents, 86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, North Leeds, w:davidphillip.co.uk

Selling houses in North Leeds and covering Bramhope, Adel, Cookridge, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley and Alwoodley