Summer is traditionally a quieter period for the UK property market, with school holidays, family commitments and overseas travel often causing buyers and sellers to put their plans on hold. This year, however, prolonged hot weather appears to have added to the seasonal slowdown.

Birmingham’s property market could be facing an interesting period of change, with new research highlighting the enormous potential for additional housing to be built around railway stations and transport hubs.

The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates at 3.75% when policymakers announce their latest decision on Thursday 30 July. While this may appear to signal stability on the surface, there are a number of underlying factors creating a more complex and uncertain outlook.

The future of the United Kingdom is once again being discussed, with the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meeting in Cardiff to discuss closer cooperation, economic issues, energy, Europe and wider constitutional questions.