If moving is starting to feel more realistic, September is a useful time to prepare. Understanding your budget, priorities and local property search now could make things much easier when the right home appears.

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.

Britain’s ongoing housing shortage has once again come under the spotlight, with new research highlighting that the issue is not one of demand or land availability—but rather decades of underbuilding.

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.