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Intelligence Talks

Knight Frank

From Knight Frank Research, Intelligence Talks brings you the latest insights on property market trends and forecasts, along with expert analysis from industry leaders.

New episodes fortnightly.

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26 episodes
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Episodes 26

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Today · 28 min
Trump vs Healey: Who Holds the Key to Lower Mortgage Rates?
Tom is joined by market analyst Michael Brown to make sense of rising mortgage rates that seem to hinge on Donald Trump's next move. They discuss why UK borrowing costs are climbing again, why crude oil is no longer the main problem, but something called the crack spread is, and whether the Bank of England will raise rates on 5 November. They also look ahead to the Budget on 28 October and the US midterms on 3 November, and what it all means for anyone weighing up whether to take a tracker mortgage or a fixed rate deal. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monday · 32 min
The case for real estate in a changed market
How do you make the case for investing in real estate when capital is more expensive, growth feels uncertain, and investors have no shortage of alternatives? To explore whether a new investment thesis is emerging, Shabab Qadar, Head of London Offices Research, and Katie O'Neill, Head of European Living Sectors Research, join us on this week's episode. We examine why the easy returns of five years ago have given way to a total return mindset, how supply constraints are quietly underpinning rental growth across London offices and European living, and why operational excellence is becoming the real differentiator in returns. From gilt yields and APAC capital flows to decarbonisation, defence spending and the shifting ways investors are gaining exposure, this conversation cuts through the macro noise to focus on what really matters. Hosted by Will Matthews, Knight Frank's Head of Commercial Insight. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 25 · 41 min
Mansion Tax and the Budget: New Chancellor, Same Smorgasbord.
Tom is joined by James Nation, former special adviser to Rishi Sunak at the Treasury, to unpack the wave of pre-Budget speculation around a lower mansion tax threshold and a possible capital gains tax rise. They discuss why this year's rumours may not be genuine Treasury trial balloons, how much financial headroom John Healey actually needs to rebuild, and which of the widely-touted tax options would truly surprise James. They also cover the prospects for Help to Buy's return, the case for extending National Insurance contributions to landlords, and what to watch for from Healey and Burnham at Labour conference next week. ⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 11 · 42 min
Beyond the Middle East: What's Driving Mortgage Rates Higher?
Mortgage rates are rising again, but the conflict in the Middle East is only part of the story. Tom Bill is joined by Helen Thomas of Blonde Money to discuss the global forces putting upward pressure on borrowing costs, from Japan's return to inflation and changes at the Federal Reserve to the financing demands of AI and growing concerns about government debt. They also assess the outlook for the housing market and explore the difficult Budget choices facing Chancellor John Healey as Westminster returns from the summer break, with rising bond yields making an already challenging fiscal backdrop even tougher. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 28 · 42 min
AI and jobs: What's next for the workplace?
Everything about AI feels extreme, from the billions being invested to the predictions about how profoundly it will change our lives. But if AI is reshaping how work gets done, what does that mean for the buildings where work happens? In this episode, Will Matthews is joined by Dr Lee Elliott, Global Head of Occupier Research, and Chris Dunn, London Office Insight Associate. Together they unpack the crucial difference between AI adoption and integration, explore the squeeze on entry-level roles and the impact on the next generation of leaders, and ask what parallels can be drawn with COVID-era predictions about the office. Listen now to hear what the AI story means for occupiers, landlords and the workplaces of the future. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 28 · 40 min
The UK’s £4bn Non-Dom Hit
Ahead of the autumn Budget, Tom Bill is joined by tax specialist James Quarmby to discuss the fallout from the UK's non-dom reforms and why he estimates they have cost the Exchequer £4 billion. They explore what happens when a tax system relies heavily on a small group of highly mobile taxpayers, how behavioural responses can derail fiscal plans, and what options remain for the Treasury as it searches for revenue. The episode considers the implications for the housing market, economic growth, and the UK's appeal as a destination for wealth, talent and investment. ⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Produced by ⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 31 · 48 min
Burnham’s First Fortnight: Reading Between the Lines for the Property Market
What does Andy Burnham's first fortnight as Prime Minister mean for the housing market? Tom Bill is joined by financial analyst Michael Brown. They discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and the implications for oil prices, inflation and mortgage rates, before examining the Bank of England's next move. The conversation also explores Burnham's early policy announcements, the fiscal challenges facing Chancellor John Healey, growing Budget speculation and what recent property tax discussions reveal about the risks of policy uncertainty for the UK housing market. ⁠⁠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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 24 · 25 min
Manchesterism, defence, and the future of UK growth
With Andy Burnham now Prime Minister, "Manchesterism" has moved from regional talking point to potential national strategy. So what is "Manchesterism", and what does it mean for UK real estate? Will Matthews, Knight Frank's Head of Commercial Insight, is joined by Insight partners Jennifer Townsend and Darren Mansfield to unpack the discussion. The conversation explores why devolution does not have to be a zero-sum game between regions, returning momentum in regional office markets, and the role rising defence spending will play in the UK's growth story. Tune in for a practical take on the future shape of UK growth under a new PM. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 3 · 38 min
Coutts Head of Lending: Volatility Is the New Normal
In this episode of Housing Unpacked, Tom Bill is joined by Alex Webster, Head of Lending at Coutts, for a discussion about wealth, lending and property at a time when political uncertainty and market volatility have become part of everyday life. With speculation mounting over tax policy, interest rates and the economic outlook, Alex explains why many wealthy buyers are continuing to transact and why, in her view, volatility has become the "new normal". The conversation explores how ultra-high-net-worth individuals think about property, debt and wealth creation, and why some of the assumptions people make about the prime market are often wrong. ⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 29 · 21 min
Why real estate capital is moving into energy infrastructure
Real estate capital is increasingly targeting energy infrastructure, but why now, and what does it mean for traditional investors? In this episode, Will Matthews is joined by Nik Potter, Associate in Knight Frank's Capital Markets Insight team, and Flora Harley, Head of Energy and Sustainability Insight, to explore the rationale, the volumes and the returns shaping investment into energy infrastructure. They unpack the three megatrends pulling capital into the sector, and discuss why the fundamentals will feel familiar to traditional real estate investors. The conversation also looks at the UK's infrastructure investment backlog, the policy backdrop, and how pension reform could unlock significant new capital. Listen for a grounded view on where energy infrastructure fits within the real assets universe. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 24 · 49 min
Burnham Takes Charge: Property Tax and Fiscal Reality
What would a Burnham premiership mean in practice? In this episode of Housing Unpacked, Tom is joined by former Treasury special adviser James Nation to explore which policies will remain longer-term ambitions, and what is realistically deliverable in the near term. Will a coronation create legitimacy concerns? Is an emergency Budget needed? And with fiscal wriggle room tight, who becomes Chancellor and how difficult is the job they inherit? For the property market, there is a lot on the line. There is renewed speculation around CGT alignment with income tax, a familiar debate over the merits of a land value tax, and early signals on greater devolution of fiscal powers. But each comes with big questions around how much revenue they raise, how quickly they can be delivered, and whether they survive contact with Treasury scrutiny. Either way, Burnham will now be judged on what he does rather than what he says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 4 · 42 min
The Rise of the Domestic Buyer: Prime Central London Comes Full Circle
After decades being shaped by global investors and rapid price growth, today’s market is more price-sensitive and domestically-driven. In this episode of Housing Unpacked, Tom Bill speaks with Anthony Payne, CEO and co-founder of LonRes, to examine what’s happening at the top end of London’s residential market. They discuss what LonRes data reveals about prices and transaction volumes across different markets and price points in the capital, the extent to which super-prime deals are still taking place and the rising number of fall-throughs. The conversation also explores whether the market is nearing a turning point or settling into a prolonged period of more muted growth and the one thing Anthony believes is needed to boost demand – and it’s not a stamp duty cut. ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 29 · 23 min
The hidden language of charts
The same dataset can look dramatically different depending on how it is visualised. Most charts are produced with good intent, but not all of them tell the full story, and some are designed not to. Knowing how to spot the difference could change how you read every market report you pick up. In this episode of Commercially Minded, Will Matthews, Knight Frank's Head of Commercial Insight, is joined by Seb Jones, Senior Analyst in Knight Frank's Modelling and Intelligence team, to examine how data visualisation shapes the conclusions that property professionals reach. They explore everything from innocent design failures that accidentally misdirect, to techniques that can steer readers towards conclusions the data does not support. If you want to know how to spot the signs that a chart is misleading you, and what questions to ask before you form a view, this is the episode to listen to. For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 22 · 45 min
Burnham, bonds and the mortgage squeeze
Tom is joined by Helen Thomas, CEO of Blonde Money, to unpack the political shockwaves around Andy Burnham’s 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. ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠ ⁠to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 5 · 45 min
City Hall Has Lost Its Grip on Housing: London Mayoral Candidate Peter Murray
On this episode of Housing Unpacked, Tom Bill is joined by Peter Murray OBE, co‑founder 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 mayor’s responsibility to deliver homes, infrastructure and better streets. He sets out his “get stuff done” 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, delivery‑focused mayor could mean for London’s future. ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 27 · 44 min
Where next for Multifamily?
For a new edition of Intelligence Talks, Katie O’Neill speaks to LGIM's Head of BTR, Adam Burney, and Head of Residential Development Research, Oliver Knight. She asks; how are investors navigating the current investment landscape? What’s really happening with rental growth, and what does it mean for future development? And importantly, where next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 24 · 31 min
Reading the signals of science and innovation demand in real estate
The innovation sector is widely seen as one of the UK's biggest economic opportunities, and the signals are hard to ignore: OpenAI is establishing a permanent presence in London, US AI companies are expanding their European footprint in the capital, and innovation clusters are emerging across UK cities well beyond the Golden Triangle. But is the real estate industry reading those signals correctly? In this episode, Will Matthews is joined by Jennifer Townsend, a partner in Knight Frank's Occupier Insight team, to explore what the real estate industry often gets wrong about measuring innovation demand, and what better metrics look like in practice. From funding as a leading indicator of space requirements, to AI clusters building momentum in cities like Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester, the discussion examines how to understand where demand is heading, not just where it has been. ⁠⁠ For more insights like this, subscribe to ⁠⁠Will's newsletter⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 20 · 47 min
Renters’ Rights Act: The End of the Hobbyist Landlord?
In this episode of Housing Unpacked, Tom is joined by Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of mortgages at buy-to-let specialist lender Paragon Bank to explore the Renters’ 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 well‑intentioned 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. ⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Tom Bill's UK Residential Outlook, for all the latest properties, exclusive market analysis, news and data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 9 · 46 min
Middle East Ceasefire to Boost Buyer Sentiment more than Mortgage Market
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 23 min
Keep calm and carry on: London's lessons for surviving real estate cycles
What does London’s past reveal about its future? Shabab Qadar, Head of London Offices Insight, joins Will to unpack London’s evolution through deregulation, financial crises, political change and the pandemic. They explore how 2020 accelerated the shift towards higher‑quality space, why the “return to office” debate is now outdated, and how AI, supply constraints and long‑term capital are shaping the next cycle. If you want a clear, focused view on London’s future, and the implications for occupiers, investors and planners, this episode has it. Hosted by Will Matthews, Knight Frank’s Head of Commercial Insight. For more insights like this subscribe to ⁠⁠Will Matthews' newsletter⁠⁠ for his weekly take on commercial real estate markets. Produced by ⁠⁠Rethink Audio⁠⁠. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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