Supply and demand: Focus on this and provide a product which meets the needs of your clients/customers at a price point which ensures a healthy profit margin.

The above forms the basis of all successful businesses and property is no different, whether you are supplying a rental product to tenants or as a developer for sale to occupier buyers.

This is my first column of 2018 and on the back of some new data from Countrywide I think we should all be focussed on the above if we want to ensure our property businesses continue to prosper in the year ahead. Countrywide reveals that the stock of rental property dropped by 4% across the UK and by 21% in London in 2017.