Covid-19

All the latest related news as the evolving coronavirus pandemic impacts the property industry.

Covid-19 News

Energy and cost crises force Q4 2022 hospitality closures above previous year
2023-01-24T14:46:00+00:00By Lawrie Holmes
A combination of energy and cost crises have driven the number of closures of licensed premises in the fourth quarter of 2022 above the Covid-hit period in the previous year.
New construction output not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2027
2022-12-14T14:18:00+00:00By Madeleine Knight
New construction output will not reach pre-pandemic levels until 2027, according to analysis from the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).
HSBC to close quarter of UK branches next year
2022-12-01T00:00:00+00:00
Global banking giant HSBC will close 114 of its UK branches next year as the number of customers using them has fallen following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Construction projects facing costly overruns
2022-11-10T00:00:00+00:00By Madeleine Knight
Analysis of 1,602 projects finds cost and delivery overruns claims totalled £71bn.
Scottish property management director ‘abused’ Covid-19 support package
2022-10-21T16:30:00+01:00By Jamie Bennett-Ness
The director of three Scottish property management companies has been disqualified for 12 years after he “abused” the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan (BBL) scheme for personal gain, the Insolvency Service has said.
Hospitality lost one venue an hour in Q3, says report
2022-10-21T13:40:00+01:00By Lawrie Holmes
The speed of closures of hospitality sector premises – pubs, bars, restaurants, cafés and hotels – reached one every hour in the third quarter of the year, according to a report published this week.
Westfield newsagent given nine months to pay Covid-19 rent arrears
2022-10-06T10:24:00+01:00By Mel Flaherty
A news kiosk operator at Westfield Stratford City has been given nine months to pay £55,000 of rent arrears, following the ruling of an independent arbitration panel tasked with reducing or upholding Covid-19-related commercial rent arrears claims.
Howard de Walden back in black but ‘bleak’ outlook dampens ambitions
2022-09-08T00:00:00+01:00By Jamie Bennett-Ness
Howard de Walden Estates has returned to a pre-tax profit as a result of a strong post-pandemic recovery, but the difficult national economic outlook has dampened its ambitions for the year ahead.
Industry slams Covid Relief Fund handling
2022-09-01T00:00:00+01:00By Jamie Bennett-Ness
The government’s handling of its £1.5bn Covid Relief Fund has been labelled a “disgrace” after figures revealed that less than a third of the business rates relief fund has been allocated as a September deadline looms.
Owners of Bon Accord centre call in administrators
2022-09-01T00:00:00+01:00
The owners of Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Shopping Centre have entered administration following unsustainable cashflow problems.
Hygiene gripes can put workers off office return
2022-09-01T00:00:00+01:00
Editor: Remit Consulting’s Return Report points to a positive trend of workers returning to the office; and since it was released, the hybrid forms of work it identifies have accelerated, with the level of employees working exclusively from home falling in the last two months from 22% to 14%.
Dalata reveals post-pandemic recovery in half-year figures
2022-08-31T08:04:00+01:00By David Parsley
Dalata Hotel Group has posted a sharp rise in revenue for the six months to the end of June, beating pre-pandemic levels.
Hybrid offices are ‘critical’ to employee retention
2022-08-25T00:00:00+01:00By Jamie Bennett-Ness
Survey reveals successfully managing transition to hybrid structure is key priority,
Hospitality sector’s moment of need
2022-08-25T00:00:00+01:00By Nick Weir
Editor: Now Covid is out the way, we should all be fine… but wait.
Industry slams Sunak’s high street revival plan
2022-08-04T00:00:00+01:00By Laura McGuire
Roger Wade and Melanie Leech attack lack of business rate reform proposals.