Intelligence Talks

Hosted by Knight Frank

Business Investing News Commentary

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Episodes

161

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

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. Sign up for regular updates from Knight Frank research . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

October 29, 202631 min

Budget 2026: Mansion Tax, Landlords and the Election Question

A Budget with few surprises, but plenty of implications. Tom is joined by Nimesh Shah, CEO of tax advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, to discuss the latest implications of the so-called mansion tax, why another income tax rise for landlords could ultimately hit tenants, and what the Chancellor’s low-key approach says about the Government’s wider plans. They also explore what has happened since the abolition of non-dom status, the case for an investor visa, and why Nimesh believes this Budget could be a prelude to an early general election. ⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

October 9, 202628 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.

October 5, 202632 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, 202641 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, 202642 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, 202642 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, 202640 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, 202648 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, 202625 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, 202638 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.