Archive

Estate agents working with international individuals can face a significant risk of encountering money laundering activities. The complex nature of cross-border...

Propertymark has issued a reminder to agents about anti-money laundering (AML) compliance as HMRC declared fines of more than £1.6m for...

The new Labour government has pledged to prioritise a ‘brownfield first’ approach to urban planning, as part of its promise to...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Victor Olowe as the chair of its new Valuation Assurance Committee (VAC).  Olowe...

Councils are warning agents to abide by the rules following complaints from residents and businesses about the positions of For Sale...

There’s nothing more frustrating than losing a sale at the last minute due to details that could have been disclosed upfront....

Estate agents are being asked to do too much when it comes to material information rules but there appears to be...

SINCE the new Labour government was elected in early July, one phrase has been circulating more than any – grey belt....

Moverly’s upfront information services have been integrated with technology platform Reapit.  Agents using Reapit can now access Moverly's comprehensive material information solution,...

HMRC and the Treasury have been urged to improve guidance on anti-money laundering (AML). Agency trade body Propertymark has suggested that while...

A lack of new investment rather than landlords selling-up is causing rental market supply issues, research suggests. The latest Hamptons Lettings Index...

Housebuilding, leasehold and rental reform are set to be key roles of the new Labour Government’s legislative agenda but agency regulation...

Competition from Dubai and concerns about taxation under the new Labour Government have led the world’s super-rich to spend less and...

Demand for energy efficient new homes is on the rise, according to recent data from Knight Frank. A recent buyer sentiment survey...

Propertymark and RICS are among industry bodies that have backed an open letter to the new Housing Secretary calling for the...

Property professionals have called for cross-party support and stability when it comes to housing policy under the new Labour Government after...

On balance, a stable new government with a large majority is good news for the sales market. Labour’s costed spending plans,...

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will have the removal vans booked this morning after the General Election result. Sir Keir is set...

An industry expert has called on agents to actively lobby new MPs to influence housing policy – whoever wins the election. Neil...

Letting agents are more confident in technology than ever before and a large majority believe that investing in automation is more...

Despite a consultation starting back in 2020, the proposed legislation hadn’t progressed through Parliament and no doubt many landlords who faced...

New research reveals nearly half a million homes could be built across London on land that currently lies derelict amid a...

In the second of their Election Wishlist series, Leaders Romans Group turn the spotlight on the Private Rented Sector (PRS). Here, National...

To put it simply – letting agents are our business. When they overwhelmingly voice a concern about something, we take that...

Amid the frenetic news agenda of recent weeks, a story broke that may have easily passed you by. It revealed how tenant...

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was the final piece of legislation to pass before Parliament closed ahead of the General...

The Government’s controversial Renters (Reform) Bill has fallen victim to Rishi Sunak’s election announcement and has been shelved. The legislation – which...

The chairperson of the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has hit back at the Government’s approach – or lack of...

Estate agents were fined a total of more than £3m in the nine months to September 2023 for failing to register...

Housing minister Jacob Young recently scotched rumours that the property portal proposed in the Renters (Reform) Bill would remove the need...

High interest rates, slow price growth and more stringent tax rules have eroded Buy-to-Let’s (BTL) charm for a number of landlords,...

Street.co.uk has added new fields directly into its property records to help agents stay compliant following the new material information guidance. It...

THE property sector has embraced technology and the enormous benefits that it can bring. Never was this more accurately demonstrated than during...

Estate agency regulation is needed to help improve the homebuying and selling process, MPs have been told. The first hearing of the...

Managing tenant deposits is a crucial part of any letting agent’s responsibilities. Ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding both landlord and...

Agents should be regulated to achieve the training and education they need to improve the property market as a whole, says...

For most of us, estate agents are key when it comes to the biggest sales and purchases of our lives. With the...

There’s been a significant rise in the number of so-called Suspicious Activity Reports concerning money laundering and the agency industry. Suspicious Activity...

Trade and representative bodies representing the legal, surveying, estate agency and property management sectors, including the Conveyancing Association, have launched the...

The Able Agent - the online property training service which recently launched in Scotland - has now expanded to Wales as...

A veteran PropTech figure with extensive experience of working at leading estate and sales agencies has told the government to act...

It’s tempting to think that Michael Gove’s proposed clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets is a uniquely British form of small-mindedness, part...

You don’t have to simply accept things as they are when it comes to managing your client accounts. If your bank...

ESPC has relaunched its SPC Property Practice certification, a unique accreditation course for solicitor estate agents. Developed with The Law Society of...

An anti-money laundering (AML) expert has queried why there is a reluctance among estate agents to accept and follow AML responsibilities. It...

The term ‘time bomb’ is sometimes overly used in the housing market, and while it has been linked to many things...

In his third and final article in this 3-part series, David Beaumont looks at the legal statues of Material Information Guidance. ...

Proptech firm Moverly has partnered with Zoopla-backed Alto to intergrate its material information tools into the CRM. Upfront information platform Moverly said...

Further estate agency regulation won’t be too expensive for the industry, Lord Best has said. Lord Best, who led the Regulation of...

Everyone seems to be talking about artificial intelligence (AI) right now. It is an issue which has been bubbling under since Covid -...

In the first of a short series of articles, David Beaumont, managing director of Compliance Matters, casts a professional eye over...

The architect of the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) reforms has expressed frustration that the recommendations have failed to materialise as...

The increased focus on upfront material information could push up estate agency professional indemnity (PI) requirements, an industry trainer has warned. Michael...

As you begin the process of property transactions in the UK, it's important to understand potential pitfalls that may result in...

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has questioned if allowing agents to choose their own redress scheme damages consumer trust. Speaking to the House...

Agents would be happy to pay for regulation but the sector should be wary of costs, a Propertymark executive has told...

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has set out the key questions it could ask agency representatives as its...

Propertymark updates Property Information QuestionnairePropertymark has updated its Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) in light of the latest part B and C...

Representatives from Propertymark, Trading Standards and The Property Ombudsman (TPO) are set to discuss estate agency regulation in the House of...

Attempts to get the long-awaited Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules introduced into the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill have failed. The...

Peers in the House of Lords have launched an inquiry into agency regulation. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will...

Digital compliance specialist SmartSearch can help estate agents comply quickly and efficiently Around one in five estate agents are not registered for...

Propertymark has launched a new working relationship with the Belvoir Group to help further improve standards and enhance financial protection for...

Industry training platform The Able Agent has launched in Scotland. First to launch is the ABBE Ofqual regulated Level 3 Certificate in...

"Property is in the blood," my dad frequently reminds me, albeit for two generations—his and mine. During the property boom of...

Estate agency regulations and minimum standards may finally see the light of day after Labour put forward amendments to the Government’s...

Propertymark is hosting two important webinars this week to keep agents informed of important industry regulations. The agency trade body is hosting...

Happy New Year and welcome to what’s looking like a busy - perhaps even hectic - 2024! I thought it worth running...

As Conveyancers we operate in such a volatile market, where government economic policy can and has repeatedly made our professional lives...

Agents should be more picky about their listings during 2024 and focus on sellers that will help speed up sales by...

As the world marches relentlessly forward to 2024, the government’s flagship legislation for the private rented sector (PRS) remains in limbo. This...

Scottish property portal ESPC has announced the inaugural graduation of its first qualification, with a 100% pass rate. EPSC revealed that 55...

The Able Agent has launched a Consumer Protection Regulations (CPR) guidance short course to support agents amid new Trading Standards material...

I think we can all agree that the National Trading Standards Material Information reforms are a good thing for the property...

Long-awaited guidance on material information in property listings was revealed yesterday but policing of the rules won’t be any different, it...

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has published the long-awaited Parts B and C of material information...

SmartSearch looks at the importance of incorporating Source of Funds checks into KYC processes It is no secret that the UK property...

The United Kingdom stands on the precipice of a historic overhaul in property ownership. With the King's speech unveiling the anticipated...

Estate agents spend almost half their working day chasing or being chased for issues as a new report highlights concerns about...

Rightmove has launched a course for estate and letting agents to help them understand and remain compliant with the Consumer Protection...

Propertymark has expressed its opposition to Scottish Government plans to increase council tax premiums on second homes. Speaking to the Scottish Parliament’s...

Nationwide has called for an independent review of the first-time buyer market as it urges the Chancellor to boost support for...

A new action group has been formed that is expressing concern about ineffective legal regulation as well as extra responsibilities being...

The role of a residential landlord has changed considerably over the years. What was once a relatively straightforward means of generating...

Propertymark has written to the Housing Secretary Michael Gove to reiterate its longstanding call for regulation of property agents. The agency trade...

On Halloween eve, Safestyle decided to give everyone a real fright and announced the company had gone into administration. This has...

A client account is essential to your lettings business, but the rules and regulations you need to follow to keep this...

The Labour Party has committed to introducing the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules if it wins next year’s General Election. Shadow...

The Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) is seeking feedback from agents on proposals that it feels will “revolutionise moving home...

As electric vehicles increasingly populate our roads and the necessity for accessible charging grows, enquiries about electric vehicle chargepoints when buying...

The Labour Party is being urged to take the lead on estate agency regulation and help driving up standards in the...

Leading digital compliance firm SmartSearch has launched an innovative new solution to help professionals working within the UK property sector to...

As an Estate Agent it’s important to be able to interpret and understand the information that a Title Deed document presents...

Compliancy expert Legal Eye has launched a new product to help agents ensure they are properly following all rules and regulations. Its...

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has welcomed two new non-executive directors to its independent board. Louise Baxter, head of the National Trading Standards...

I'll start with a confession. I am not an estate agent - I'm a marketer. But since I joined the industry...

As money laundering compliance marks its twentieth year, more and more estate agents are being fined for breaches of HMRC’s ID...

In recent years, the UK private rented sector has witnessed a significant increase in government regulation aimed at raising standards for...

A cost-of-living crisis, higher interest rates and an increase in bureaucratic regulation might point to a bleak future for the lettings...

It is no secret that our climate is getting warmer. 2022 was one of the six warmest years on record globally,...