2007 was the year the ‘lifestyle farmers’ bought more land than actual raised-on-the-dirt farmers. If you read the Sunday supplements you know the type, migrating London fops inspired by Blur’s Alex James to add a little country rosiness to their families’ cheeks without going the whole ruddy, tractor-face mile. Then and bigger City investors with bonuses to burn who – apparently – tend to make their country purchases on the hush-hush. Lifestyle farmers grow vegetables and chop wood for their stoves, but allow local farmers to raise animals on their land while they stay out of the rain and knit chickens.

Our publisher, on the one property sector still booming, in his guest column for Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

‘Gazunder.’ He did his best Simon Callow impression. ‘That’s a quaint word.’ I explained, there’s nothing quaint about its meaning 1) n. a pot for lazy Brummies to pee into when it’s too cold to get out of bed 2) v. pretty much the same practice, aimed at a vendor during an ailing housing market. For the purposes of this column, we’re discussing the second. And gazundering is back.

Our publisher, on gazundering, in his weekly column for Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

The story of the UK housing market – the real story, the bit with the heroes and the villains – is, like the market’s indices and headlines, in a state of constant flux.

It’s a complex piece of drama, too; each twist and turn of the plot reflecting the players in a slightly different light; a whodunit in which few of us are wholly certain of the ‘it’, let alone the ‘who’.

Newcomers to the genre make the mistake of leaping to conclusions. Remember – the first suspect’s ultimately rarely guilty. The villains don’t wear black anymore, or ride the black horses.

Our publisher... in his guest column... over at Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

Welcome aboard the Foreclosure Bus Tour. According to local news reports in the US, the big orange bus has been spotted in Orlando, Phoenix, Detroit, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Pismo Beach, and Sacramento; and according to Foreclosure Bus Tours, there are scheduled stops planned for New Haven, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Ft Lauderdale and a host of other crisis housing markets.

The service is advertised as a way of finding ‘the pick of the litter’ - the best-tended, most lovingly cared-for homes, conveniently rid of down-on-their-luck owners (a few of whom might have been tempted into reckless debt before the crunch hit; a few of whom might have been forced to remortgage to pay medical bills or other unforeseen expenses) and now available to cash investors at fire sale prices.

Our publisher, and his guest column, over at Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

Owning a second home in the UK is a bit like owning fur. It’s perfectly legal, but not something you’d necessarily volunteer among thinking people. And yet in recent weeks, the customary reticence of the country or coastal cottage weekender has been replaced by a certain amount of public bleating on the letters pages. These are the letters that begin with the declaration that the correspondent’s own second home is ‘modest’, ‘tiny’ even, or was rescued and restored from Stig Of The Dump dilapidation, to the amazement and applause of grateful local straw-chewers. ‘We’re not hurting anybody,’ is the sub-text. ‘Please don’t hate us.’

Our publisher suggests they've little to complain about, in his guest column, over at Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

For every method of skinning a cat, there are 20 ways of measuring residential property prices. Few of them will relate, much, to your house.

The publisher's column, over at Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

That's it from me until Tuesday. Have a great extended weekend. Just don't go anywhere.

Technorati Tags: theRatandMouse

Our publisher, on sell-to-rent, over at Citywire:

Last September, my adventurous, high-achieving friend Kate (not her real name, just in case she Googles her name "+high-achieving") sold her period, three-bedroom house on the right street in Clapham. It was – she’s positive – the top of the market. She hasn’t bought another home yet. When she does, she’d like it to be a period, three-bedroom house on the right street in Clapham. Her ideal home is the one she recently sold. Except cheaper.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

Why are we so bad at this? How have we managed to manoeuvre ourselves into an economic Catch-22, in which the giant price-drop necessary to guarantee affordable homes for our children will mean our own economic ruin when we reach pension age?

... our publisher's column, over at Citywire.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

The Rat and Mouse's publisher begins a new series of columns for investment news website Citywire today... which is fresh and beautiful from an exciting expansion and redesign. Check out the site, and read about interest rates, lenders, borrowers, Mervyn King and Dale Winton here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate, theRatandMouse

My favourite email to the Rat and Mouse so far this year:

Hi There, Just wanted to let you know that your site contains a Googlewhack (i.e. only one web result
returned when you enter the words shambolic degentrification into google).

Thanks, John. You've made me absurdly proud.

Technorati Tags: theRatandMouse

Apologies for the technical difficulties this morning. Our extreme popularity was our undoing. Normal business will resume shortly.

Technorati Tags: theRatandMouse

It's such a long time since I spoke with Gawker Media's lively NY-based travel blog, Gridskipper, about the least favourite London buildings, that I'd almost forgotten what I'd nominated. Quite out of the blue, the piece has appeared, and it's a fun read, with contributions by Sam Jacob, Ali Mangera, Tom Holbrook and Patrick Lynch.

Technorati Tags: architecture, London, property, real estate

Thanks to Harvey at Renthusiast, for this opportunity to explain a little bit about the background to the Rat and Mouse.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate, theRatandMouse

An interesting email to the Rat and Mouse, headed "List of Top 100 Property Owners in London". Turns out it's not a list, it's a question:

I was just wondering whether there's such a list available. My guess is that the top 100 owners in London own nearly than 1000000 beds. My research has been vain until now and there appears to be no data available in the public domain. Thanks for your help guys in helping me crack the code.

That's a great question, and I'm damned if I know the answer. Surely that data exists somewhere. If you know... please drop me a line and I'll pass on all information to my correspondent.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate, the rat and mouse

The Rat and Mouse will be taking a break now until December 27, when we'll be back with the lead-up to the traditional and very exciting New Year's property price predictions. Until then, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas... Ben

Technorati Tags: theRatandMouse

I've received a number of emails asking me whether I'm Ben Burnside, as well as Ben Brandt. Why? It started when, in an idle moment of web browsing, a HousePriceCrash blogger plugged in HousePriceRise.co.uk... and was rewarded with this:

Why would the Bank of England buy or use that domain name? They wouldn't, of course. Commenters on the thread have traced the address to a Ben Burnside. The plot thickens. His motivations are pretty hard to fathom, but I can assure anybody who's emailed me... not guilty.

Technorati Tags: theRatandMouse, Web

The Rat and Mouse comes to you live from office floor today. Yesterday, I was poleaxed by a slipped disc. It's just fortunate the Rat and Mouse central offices have a full typing pool today, so I can at least dictate copy from the lush and expensive carpet.

Technorati Tags: the rat and mouse

... and even huger thanks to those who emailed pointing out the lack of R&M (some even offering to help). I honestly - and I really mean honestly - had no idea you cared.

We were down for almost 24 hours, thanks to the shock waves of yesterday's RICS figures causing actual, physical damage to the Rat and Mouse server. Our hosts battled valiantly to limit the carnage, but it was extensive. We're taking new measures - just in case of an actual prolonged property price downturn or, God forbid, a crash - including the introduction of panic-retardent enclosures and anti-negative equity chipsets.

Thanks - in all seriousness - to the prolonged and skillful efforts of our brilliant hosts for getting us back up and running.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, theRatandMouse

Thanks to the Rat and Mouse readers who emailed me about this. We're experiencing problems with our "comments" facility. We're working on it. In the meantime, feel free to email.

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That was fun. I thought Mike Carter and Mark Hopwood - while approaching the subject in very different ways - both spoke eloquently about what Web2.0 is and the opportunities and risks it presents for the property industry, and I enjoyed Andy Etches' robust case for a skilled, value-driven online agency business that can thrive alongside the the more traditional high street names. I have to admit... I'd been a little nervous about the event. I make very few public appearances... I normally send a stunt double. But with such a friendly and interesting panel, skillful chairperson and informed and eloquent crowd, I'm really glad I didn't miss this. Thanks to Zoomf for the invitation, and to any Rat and Mouse readers who showed up... and particularly those who came over and said "hello".

The gentleman from Knight Frank made an interesting and very valid point about the difficulty persuading the old guard running a 150 year old company that a corporate blog might be safe, never-mind desirable or useful. That's simply never going to be easy. But the reality is that it's probably not a question about blogging, Web2.0 or new media. It's a question about leadership and business culture, and it could apply to almost anything, from technology to dress-code. In any case blogging isn't new. And if the word itself is a problem, approach it as a company journal. If the Wokingham Conservatives are doing it...

If anybody wants to keep the conversation going, or for advice about blogging software/tools, feel free to comment or email.

Technorati Tags: blogging, property, real estate, Web, Web2, web2.0

That's The Specials/Knight Frank's description of the London sub-£1m riverside apartment market this month, as reported in an interesting piece in the Times. It's a case of pre-bonus nerves.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

... from a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation, thanks to all (two) of you who asked. Hope you enjoyed the ten days of properties. Sorry if you tipped a place and I didn't feature it. I intend to slot a few more properties in during the coming weeks.

So what happened while I was away? Did I miss much? A few people emailed to say there was some kind of stock market turbulence related to irresponsible mortgage lending, but I think it's just an attempted wind-up. I don't believe a word of it.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

So, I'm on holiday. It happens occasionally. Last year, as an experiment, I threw the blog open to readers - civilians and estate agents - and encouraged you to send in links to interesting London properties. Not necessarily expensive properties, but interesting ones. The experiment was a success... data (and feedback) suggested readers enjoyed it. So - a week or so ago - I started inviting readers to submit listings to appear on the blog during my 2007 summer break. So here we go - ten days of properties. All interesting... this year, mostly expensive, which says something about the London market. If you're an agent and you're not happy seeing your photographs on the Rat and Mouse, drop me a line here and I'll remove them. (It may take a day or two, because I won't have broadband on holiday.)

... the Rat and Mouse still needs your help. Keep that property porn coming.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

So... soon, I'm going on holiday. It's always a problem. What to do about posting to the Rat and Mouse? The London property market doesn't stop just because the London property blogger's lying on a beach with matchsticks between his toes watching Charlie's Angels lookalikes pit his olives. So for a full 12 months I've been working secretly on... a device. A computerised, roboticised, fully-automated property-blogging device. I'm now in a position to announce that it still needs work.

Last year, as an experiment, I ran nine days of extraordinary property - daily listings of the great, the good, the interesting, the available. I expected a small drop-off in traffic... disappointed Rat and Mouse readers angered by my absence and voting with their browsers. In the event, readers arrived in droves. The experiment was a success, even if I was a little offended to see the traffic rise during my absence. No matter.

So this year, I'll be doing something similar. Which is where you come in. I need particulars... send me links to London properties that you think other Rat and Mouse readers might like. They don't have to be expensive... just interesting. You'll remain anonymous, unless you specifically request a credit. And estate agents (I know - for a fact - you're reading this)... you're welcome, too. You don't even have to pretend to be somebody else. I'm off in less than two weeks, so please start sending your links, now... here. Thanks.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate, theRatandMouse

Thanks for your patience, and thanks to Tag4 for their customary hard work and all-round brilliance. Keep those emails coming.

Okay, it would be dishonest not to admit I'm excited about being up there at the top...

... but I'm also having a lot of fun exploring this list. A New Build Diary, the architecture thread at MyNinjaPlease, and pingmag, in particular, are heading straight for the Rat and Mouse feed reader, and I'm continuing to explore. Thanks, once again, to the Times for the kind words. Get the full list here.

Rat and Mouse in Times Top 50 business blogs [June 13, 2007]

Why advertise with the Rat and Mouse?

Technorati Tags: blogging, Curbed, London, property, theRatandMouse, real estate, Web, Web2, web2.0

This is partly to say "thanks" to those who have written in to let us know; but mostly to shamelessly blow our own trumpet. From the Times:

As the bloggerati continue to set the agenda Times Online provides the first full list of the 50 top blogs, corporate and anti-corporate alike.

... plus commentary on the madness of the market, the vagaries of the estate agencies and the filthiest property porn in the capital. We're genuinely grateful and delighted to have been included. Thanks!

Check out the other great blogs there, too. The Rat and Mouse feed reader is bulging.

Technorati Tags: blogging

One of the really great things about being a property blogger - apart from the money and the drugs and the girls - is being your own boss. Basically, you can do what the hell you like... and it's a daily struggle not to let all that power and influence corrupt. So today - because I can - I'm declaring this Rat and Mouse tech Friday... expect a handful of tech and web-related property stories throughout the day. If you've a tip... send it in. Please.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate, Web, Web2, web2.0

Please email Ben for more information.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

It's about time for a little linkback... thanks to some of the websites and blogs that have sent readers to the Rat and Mouse recently... (and if I've missed you out, let me know):

The Guardian
Darnell International
City Slicker
Curbed LA
Renthusiast
Metroblogging London
Orioren.com
Gold and Finance
Jonas Superblog (although I've absolutely no idea what this means)
Page 132
The Konsortium
Curbed
WorkinProperty
Elemental
Luxist
Londonist
Celebrity.LoveToKnow.com
Bloggerheads

Thanks!

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

I realise it's a long shot, but as a previous reader tipper and fan of the site... any sister sites in Edinburgh? ... any hot tips for north of the border? I mean - we're doing our best to catch up with the London crazyness ;)

Murray - I remember you well. Hmm, a Rat and Moose? I don't know, but I'm always interested in special reports...

Technorati Tags: property, real estate

After this. Our favourite email, ever.

I know that you were not gloating about the Foxtons Mini... but you really should be careful... you never know what you can find in your parking lot... or just send this to all those real estate kids at Foxtons and say you can feel the pain... you've been there in a better ride.

It wasn't my BMW. But I can confirm it was one of the Rat and Mouse fleet (Belgravia office). I'm still trying to get to grips with the whole story, but I believe the car had been lent to an estate agent.

Technorati Tags: estate agents, Foxton's, Foxtons, London, real estate agents

The first in a series of new features we're planning for 2007, London's Property Blog now brings you property search, straight from the front page. Over the next few days, we'll be fiddling with the layout a tiny bit, fixing the odd "anomaly", and doing our best to offer Rat and Mouse readers the ultimate property addict experience... news, gossip, property porn and live estate agents' listings, all from a single address. In return, we'd really love some feedback... whether you like the idea, how the search works for you, how it all looks in your browser and what else we should be doing to make the Rat and Mouse the first portal of call in London property. As always, we're here.

Technorati Tags: London, property, real estate

I've had a handful of emails this morning, asking... "Where are you?" And the honest answer was, I have no idea. But whatever the issue was has been speedily resolved by the Rat and Mouse's friends at Tag4, and we're back up and running. If you emailed... thanks!

Regular Rat and Mouse readers... we don't ask much (anything) of you, usually, but just this once... if you like what we do... why not consider heading over to the Bloggies page, where you have until the end of Wednesday, January 10, to nominate your favourite London property weblog in the UK category?

We're informed that John D Wood, estate agents, had 545 visitors to their website on Christmas Day, doubling their 2005 traffic. Obviously, that's good. Just not quite as good as the 1,756 Christmas Day visits to the Rat and Mouse. Which is why some Rat and Mouse readers should seriously consider advertising on the site. Currently, I'm putting together a small (four, maybe less) syndicate of non-competing sponsors who can benefit from a presence on the front page. Since the blog is read by both property vendors and movers and media shakers, there will be a modest monthly fee for the privilege, which will be re-invested in the website, so I can put in place some of the new and interesting changes and features I have planned for 2007. If you're interested, email me here.

Meanwhile, to read why advertising on niche websites is more effective, go here.

... to all Rat and Mouse readers. Expect a few changes to London's property blog during 2007... more details to follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, thanks for your continuing support.

Rat and Mouse readers - we love you [November 2, 2006]

That's it until Wednesday. When we come back, we'll have a round-up of 2007 property price predictions, and a look back at what the experts were predicting for this year... plus, a little about what the Rat and Mouse has planned for 2007. Thanks for reading, thanks for subscribing, thanks for your emails. The Rat and Mouse wishes you all very Happy Holidays.

The guys at Nestoria, one of the UK's most advanced property search engines, are long time Rat and Mouse readers. A few days ago, they contacted to me with a series of questions about the London property scene in general and property search in particular. Somewhat flattered, and always keen to talk houses... I answered them. Find the interview here.

Some of you may have noticed I had a spot of extremely rare server trouble this morning. It's fixed, the Rat and Mouse is back, posts to follow immediately. (By the way, if you emailed the Rat and Mouse between 8am and 2pm today, you might want to re-send... apologies.)

We don't say it enough, but at the Rat and Mouse we appreciate our readers... all 2,500 of you who visit us each and every day (except, for some reason, Sundays... when it's apparently decreed that roughly 1,000 of you must rest and not look at property porn or read property gossip for a full 24 hours). We especially appreciate those readers who get involved. Every email, every comment (except these, because we have reason to believe they're all posted by one very sad actor person)... we appreciate them, and we want more of them. We know that sifting through the world's press (so you don't have to) for the best London property stories of the day is useful, but it's not enough for us. We enjoy ourselves most when we're being more of a "hub". And we can't be that without you. So - let's share this evil obsession. We want:

- Property development tips. New development in your area? Post us a pic as one building goes down or another goes up.
- Property news opinion. Boom or bust, tax and legislation... we want your views.
- Your impressions of your neighbourhood, real insider knowledge from each and every London postcode.
- Calls for property-related help - we'll post 'em, with pleasure - you monitor the comments.
- Your photographs... porn-worthy properties, new developments, extraordinary viewings... phone-snaps welcome.
- Estate agent tales - as a buyer, as a vendor, hell, as an agent. We want to hear the estate agents' side of things, too.

Frankly, we want to get to know you. Here's how it works... you email us here. We assume you'd prefer to remain anonymous and under no circumstances share or publish your name or email address... unless you specifically tell us it's okay. That's it. And thanks - as always - for reading.

Ben

The Rat and Mouse - it's about your house

Ed, over at property search engine Nestoria, reveals the Top Five Misspelled London Place Names. It follows last week's list of most popular search areas. Inspired, I checked out some Rat and Mouse stats to see what search terms are sending new readers our way - something I ought to do more often. All the obvious ones are there... "rat and mouse", "london property blog", "property porn". I'm not entirely positive how readers found us searching "emma bunton", "freddie ljungberg" or "candy davis pics"... but find us, and in quantities, they did.

The Rat and Mouse interview - the Power of Search [July 10]

... we want your property porn. Thanks to everybody who's responded so far. Please keep them coming.

Due to the combination of some unexpectedly necessary tinkering at the server/database end of things and the loss of my broadband service here at home (what timing, eh?) I've been experiencing what's technically known as a headache. The server's sorted (thanks Tag4!) - but my broadband isn't (thanks BT!)... so I'm still struggling a little. Normal service will resume shortly.

At the end of this week I'm taking a fortnight's holiday... heading, with family, to the coast to celebrate the onset of autumn in style - gusty wind, drizzly sand, stone-grey skies, the traditional British holiday. My internet connection will, like the answer, be blowing in the wind, so I think it will be the perfect time to do something that's been at the back of my mind for some time. I'm looking for extraordinary London properties currently on the market, and I'm appealing for your help. I want listings that tug at the heart strings. They don't have to be expensive, or big, or in a grand location. They just need to have a uniqueness about them, a sense of character, that makes you imagine living in them. Over the next five days please send me links, and (if you like) some comments about the property, what it is that appeals to you. And if you're an estate agent, you're very welcome, too. No names or email addresses will be published. Send your tips here, and please try to get them to me by Friday.

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We've watched our daily visitor numbers hit the thousands and keep on growing. We've also been consistently informed and entertained by the emails sent in each day by readers. So - as you might have noticed - we've decided it's time to tweak the system and place greater emphasis on reader comment and contribution. We want the Rat and Mouse to be a community as well as a blog - a place to argue, discuss and ask and answer questions. So - a few days ago - we switched on the blog's comments facility. Now, we're testing out a forum, and if things take off, we'll import our membership into something a bit neater, and host it with the Rat and Mouse. I really hope you'll join up and make extensive use of the place. The Rat and Mouse has forged some good relationships with professionals right across the property industry, and I'm also hopeful that some of these people will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions. (If you're a property professional - please feel free to drop by and introduce yourself in the plug in section.) I don't - and you shouldn't - expect a busy, thriving community to develop over night. Forums (fora?) have a necessary gestation period. But unless a few of you break the ice... it won't happen. So I'm counting on you.

In the meantime, I've moved an interesting (and perhaps surprising) comment thread over from the blog before it drops off the front page. It's about the second-homes debate - you'll find it here - please let us know your thoughts.

It's a Bank Holiday here in the UK, and I'll shortly be leaving to do "family stuff". But first I want to draw your attention to this - our brand new forum. I'll be back tomorrow to explain more - the reasoning behind it and what we'd like it to become - but for now I'd just like to say... please visit, please join, please say hello. I don't expect our little Proboards home to become densely populated overnight, but I do feel that London househunters and movers, those involved in the London property business (and beyond) and anybody interested in the vagaries of the housing market (here and abroad) could use a place to argue, share knowledge, ask questions and make friends. More tomorrow.

Those of you who have written to us in recent months asking why there isn't a "comment" facility on this blog will know that I eventually admitted the truth... I didn't know how to switch it on. But now - after less than six weeks of fiddling, futzing and whatever else - we've found the button, pressed it, and the Rat and Mouse should accept comments from this moment on. I really hope you'll take advantage of it and that some of the lively and informed arguments and criticism I've had the pleasure of receiving via email will now start to appear publicly and perhaps spark off further debate and comment. And that's not all. There's another exciting Rat and Mouse feature just a day or two away. I don't want to spoil the plot right now... but keep checking back.

You see how this happens? You write one lousy story about toilets, and suddenly Googleads covers your entire front page with ads for toilet stores. Including ones with unfortunate domain names:

That's it for us, now, until Tuesday. Have a truly wonderful Easter weekend.

We had a few server difficulties. If you emailed us this morning - and you can be bothered - a "re-send' would be appreciated. Thanks.

The Telegraph reports on Cliffe Cottage, Redcliffe Mews in Chelsea, apparently the only house in London (apart from the Queen's) to not carry a number. The story is that the house was built after the rest of the mews had been developed. and all the good numbers had already been taken. It's said to be with Lane Fox, at £1.7 million... but we can't find any reference to it at the website. For what it's worth, the Telegraph page starts with an upbeat story about estate agents John D Wood who reported 261 users visiting their website on Christmas Day, as evidence of a turn in the property market. The Rat and Mouse can confirm the Christmas Day property frenzy with visitor figures of, well, let's just say treble that number and add some more. So if you want to consider advertising on the Rat and Mouse... email to discuss.

So... it's time now to say goodbye for a few days, wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas, and pretend we're not obsessing about London property for just a few days. I've been purposefully ignoring all, or at least most, of the 2006 house price prediction during the last few days, with the intention of gathering them together for a last post of the year next week. So stay tuned for that. Otherwise, I'll be away Monday and Tuesday, and back with the occasional story from Wednesday. MERRY CHRISTMAS, and thanks for reading the Rat and Mouse.

The Rat and Mouse gets readers... more than we dared imagine we'd get when I joined forces with an ace web designer to set this thing up. And that's fine. But we'd really like more of your stuff... that's your tips, your stories, your opinions, your favourite property porn and particulars, favourite property TV, least favourite estate agents, your own London property-related stories, your photos from the city streets. Estate agents - and we know you're reading this because your IP addresses say it's so - we want your stuff, too. I know it's a tough business, and your clients are no angels. Tell us about it. It's time to get interactive. We don't pass on email addresses (to be honest, we're not organised enough to hold onto them ourselves.) And we'll never reveal your identity. Unless, of course, you insist. So come on... more interaction, that's what we want, now and in 2006. You know where to find us.

We're one thousand posts long... one whole thousand snippets of mainly London property-related news and opinion and gossip and porn. And we're looking forward to the next thousand. If you want to know more about the Rat and Mouse, why you should consider advertising with us, sponsoring us, sending tips to us or just continuing to read us... there's more shameless self-promotion after the jump.

First off - a huge apology for the recent unreliability of the Rat and Mouse's email addresses. If you wrote to us in the last fortnight and we didn't reply... we really weren't being deliberately rude. Now - thanks to a little corrective surgery by the ever-wonderful Tag4 - we're guaranteed to read your message. So, please, try us again... here for tips, here for me, here for advertising or if you want to know more about the Rat and Mouse's influential readership.

I'm taking a holiday. Yes, clearing off for a whole two weeks. It will be the first time I've left the Rat and Mouse to fend for itself since May 2004... which is why I've decided not to let the Rat and Mouse fend for itself. Say "hi" to Rat and Mouse stand-in blogger Gilbert Gazunder, who will be posting in my absence. I know for a fact that he's very keen that Rat and Mouse readers share their grubbiest property porn with him - so don't be selfish with the smut, send your favourite particulars to the usual address and make a sick man very happy.

If you're one of our London readers, you're probably aware by now that the city's in chaos, with a series explosions reported in various locations. If you're reading this from afar, please be patient with us, as we wait and see how this develops before deciding on what posts will continue today. In the meantime, go here for breaking news.

Some facts:

- each day, the Rat and Mouse sifts through scores of daily London property stories so its readers don't have to. The most interesting, newsworthy and important, along with exclusive tips (sent to tips@theRatandMouse.co.uk) appear on the website.

- the Rat and Mouse has already received over two-and-a-half million hits in 2007, averaging more than 37,000 unique visits a month, and serving more than three thousand page impressions a day (as of 23/5/07). Its reach includes home sellers and buyers, the industry itself and an important and informed media readership, who regularly consult the Rat and Mouse when looking for interviewees.

If you’re a real property gossip addict, there’s a site which will become the centre of your life: www.theratandmouse.co.uk... its wealth of intelligence and curtain-twitch information about London property stuff makes it a snooper’s must see. (Financial Times)

- The Rat and Mouse has been featured in the Sunday Telegraph, quoted in the Guardian, the Times and the Financial Times, by the BBC (online and on the radio) and Bloomberg, and it's been consulted by ITN.

- The Rat and Mouse is one of the very few British blogs to be quoted and linked to by America's powerhouse blog networks (including New York's Curbed and Gridskipper, of Gawker Media-fame).

- The Rat and Mouse was named one of the world's top five property/construction-related blogs by Building magazine and one of the world's top 50 business blog by the Times newspaper.

- The Rat and Mouse syndicates branded columns to three London monthly magazines... Rise, The Resident and Grove, extending its reach to a further 160,000 homes a month.

Advertising on the Rat and Mouse is a cost-effective way to reach a highly targeted readership of homemovers, industry players and journalists. For more information, email Ben.

Please read these terms carefully before proceeding to access the Rat and Mouse. Your use of the Rat and Mouse indicates your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions.

In these terms and conditions, "we" means the owners of the Rat and Mouse; "you" means any visitor, reader or user of the Rat and Mouse, as well as any associated content including email or rss.

Any changes to the terms and conditions will be posted here or in any other place we deem appropriate.

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General disclaimer

The Rat and Mouse is a gossip site, and publishes both rumours, conjecture and opinions as well as accurately reported factual information. The site may contain errors or inaccuracies. We do not guarantee or promise, and no reliance should be placed upon, the correctness or reliability of the site's content.

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License

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Outside contributions to the Rat and Mouse

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