Property news roundup: More than half of UK homes to be rented by 2032

Plus, time on market, search by square footage, and London's most expensive bus routes

Findproperly.co.uk's London house prices by square foot by postcode searcher

More than half of UK homes will be rented by 2032 - the first time since the early 1970s - if current housing trends go unchecked, according to a new report by the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association.

Since 2007 the private rented sector has grown from 14 per cent to 18 per cent of households while owner-occupation has dropped from 68 per cent to 64 per cent and social renting has also fallen.

Typical time on market drops

All the English regions, Scotland and Wales saw a drop in the average marketing time for homes over the last month, according to Home.co.uk. The North West is the most improved area over the last month, with a drop in the average figure from 146 to 117 days. The typical time on market for England and Wales combined is 90 days.

Greater London, the South East, East Anglia, the South West and East Midlands experienced average marketing times of 48, 59, 69, 82 and 85 days respectively, very close to last month's figures.

Search London properties by square foot and postcode

A clever new gadget from Findproperly allows homehunters to search - or indeed just marvel - at the prices of London properties by location and square footage (or if you prefer, by a range of other measures such as slices of bread, iPhones, Sushi rolls, Oysters cards or Olympic medals).

Expensive bus routes

Knight Frank's Tom Bill has worked out London’s 20 most expensive bus routes according to property sales 200m either side of each bus route.

The most expensive route is the number 9, which leaves Hammersmith and goes through Kensington, while the 10 most expensive routes all go through Kensington & Chelsea.

"It’s no surprise to see the no 9 in the top spot," said Sami Robertson, a partner at Knight Frank in Kensington. "The moment it leaves Hammersmith, prices start to rise and as you cross into the Royal Borough you see a big jump in prices. You pass some of the most expensive streets in the world, including the famous Kensington Palace Gardens or 'billionaire’s row' as it is known."