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2017 has been a busy year for Gateway and the property industry. We look back at some key events.

Property and politics came together throughout 2017, with stamp duty changes (yes, again) being a key feature of the Autumn Budget. Earlier, in June, the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, West London, brought fire safety in flats to the government and nation’s attention. The year also saw the Build to Rent sector emerge in the UK, with the first tenants moving into the East Village development in Stratford (formerly London 2012’s Athletes Village).

As we approach the end of an eventful 2017, we look ahead at the UK property market. What do leading experts think the New Year, and the short to mid-term future, will bring?

As expected, the landscape post-Brexit features strongly. There is general agreement that growth in central London real estate prices will slow, with the outer boroughs and several regions faring better. Rises in mortgage interest rates, however gradual, will also be an important factor looking a little further into the future.

Joanne Cox joined Gateway Property Management at the end of September and is already making her mark. The former Managing Director brings over two decades of broad property expertise to the business, encompassing everything from credit control to build-to-rent projects and managing large portfolios for the likes of major banks and supermarkets, as well as a government body and local authority. At Gateway Property Management, Joanne’s role is to further enhance the company’s processes, enabling even greater growth as the portfolio expands.

The apartments at Merton Abbey Mills are located at one of London’s oldest heritage sites, and include a Grade II Listed medieval building and Victorian waterwheel. The flats are of an extremely high standard, but one issue was bothering both ourselves, as property managers, and the apartment owners: the outdated communal lighting. The innovative solution with specialists Future Lighting will save residents thousands of pounds.

Huge congratulations to Lee O’Neill at Gateway Facilities Management for his plucky trek to reach the base camp at Everest. All to support a good cause.​

It was the hardest physical task ex-Army soldier, Lee, had undertaken. Throughout the nine days up to Everest’s base camp and back down again, Lee suffered from extreme altitude sickness. Although Lee came close to quitting on a few occasions, he dug deep and made it.

The trip started more comfortably in late September, taking a 10-day, scenic trek to majestic Everest. Highlights included crossing the high pass, Cho La (home of the Sherpa people), with stunning views of the Himalayas. This is one of the steepest and toughest climbs, with guides often advising trekkers to never look back! Another highlight was the pizza Lee ate when arriving back in the area’s main town of Lukla after the trek.

The adventure ended with a final exploit, a race down the mountainside to take a helicopter out of the clouds to Katmandu for the flight home. Lee is focusing his next bunch of physical endurance tests more locally, including the infamous ‘Nuclear Races’, a tough, muddy obstacle course near Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. Lee’s Everest trek raised funds to support a charity close to a Gateway colleague’s heart. Well done, Lee.