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Consisting of contributions from our Associated Writers, Features covers a wide range of opinions on topics affecting the UK's estate and letting agents. Join the debate by logging-in and leaving a comment.

Features > Legal, Training & Compliance

Are Pre-Check-Out Reports Worth the Time and Effort?

By Richard Abbots

Most letting agents are already carrying out inspections for check-in...

Think safety – what lettings staff and clerks need to know about lone working

By Daniel Evans

Inventory clerks and letting agency staff have been warned to...

Conveyancers - why preparing for the worst is a wise move

By EAT & LAT Team

A report earlier this month warned that conveyancing firms should stress...

Avoiding the threat of fines: what’s often missed in the AML process

By Simon Luke

HMRC has fined estate agents over £500,000 for anti-money laundering...

Revealed - how to avoid disputes at the end of tenancies

By Nick Lyons

Letting agents and landlords who know how to avoid deposit...

Four compliance findings from the English Private Landlords Survey

By James Dilgul

Are landlords following the law? To answer this question, the...

Three regulatory updates agents need to know about in 2022

By James Dilgul

A wide range of upcoming legislative changes will affect the...

Student accommodation: how to manage mass check-outs without a mess

By Richard Abbots

As the mass student exodus from rented accommodation begins throughout...

Time is running out for legacy customer checks

By Collette Allen

As another round of property firms is fined, named and...

Property Natter: ‘the only way to bring about change is to be proactive’

By Nat Daniels

In this latest ‘Women in Property’ edition of the Natter,...

Why speedy transactions could be leaving the door wide open to fraudsters

By EAT & LAT Team

In this guest piece, Colum Smith, a property expert at...

Client money and the regulation governing it is changing

By Neil Cobbold

PayProp’s recent Rental Confidence Index survey polled property professionals about...

How to Prove Your Rented Property is Safe for Habitation

By Richard Abbots

As amendments to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm legislation loom...

Rental reform - why it'll make inventories more important than ever 

By EAT & LAT Team

In this weekend feature, inventory expert and chair of the...

Short term lets - what’s the extent of the problem?

By Timothy Douglas

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, analyses...

Cyber-security in 2022: what do agents need to know?

By Mark Armstrong

I’m sure most readers would agree with me that cyber-security...

Are you fit to fight financial crime in property transactions?  

By Sam Ruback

I’ve worked in financial crime for the past seven years, beginning my career...

Revealed: what to consider before setting up your own agency

By EAT & LAT Team

Many agents working in the industry, whether for large corporates...

Reservation agreements – they have been here all along

By EAT & LAT Team

In this guest editorial, experienced property solicitor Lorraine Richardson argues that...

360° virtual tours require GDPR and CPR compliance

By Mitch Handley

As virtual tours start to get even more popular, and...

Three ways to prove the value of your fees in a competitive market

By Nick Ball

With the competition for new listings between agents as fierce...

Interview: experienced agents show increased appetite for training and qualifications

By EAT & LAT Team

Since the announcement of the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA),...

Admin staff: the cornerstones to an effective agency

By EAT & LAT Team

Admin teams in most businesses are often the lynchpins that...

Can landlords and agents take photographs during property inspections?

By Simon Bushell

Taking photographs or video footage during a routine property inspection...

Q&A with Jerry Walters – why the AML clock is ticking for letting agents

By EAT & LAT Team

With property fraud on the rise and an ever-increasing number of...

The reality of RoPA – an alternative view on estate agency regulation

By David Beaumont

We have more regulations controlling the sector than ever before...

Ten useful tools to aid end of tenancy deposit deductions

By Justine Tomlinson

The TDS annual review 2020 indicates that deposit disputes have...

Virtual viewings and personal data – what do agents need to know?

By Patrick Wheeler

If someone broke into your house and took a video...

No short-term lets regulation for now - what could this mean for the PRS?

By Neil Cobbold

Licensing of the short-term lets sector in Scotland was due...

Have tenants in arrears? You need to be aware of this new law

By Neil Cobbold

From 4 May 2021, your agency could be blocked from...

Video - How can agents thrive in a more tenant-centric market?

By EAT & LAT Team

In a video interview for Letting Agent Today, property professional...

How to ensure your letting business remains compliant

By Gill Waller

Being a letting agent today means keeping up to date...

Why automation could improve enforcement of PRS regulation

By Neil Cobbold

It’s now more than a year since the government offered...

Property Natter: exclusive Q&A with Tim Balcon, Propertymark’s new CEO

By Nat Daniels

Propertymark, the overarching body aiming to bring five different associations...

Banking barriers for start-ups and how to overcome them

By Chris Mason

Start-up letting agents looking to enter the market are finding...

Indoor air quality and the Homes Act – what are the challenges?

By Daniel Bastone

The Homes Act requires landlords to consider whether their tenants'...

PRS regulation - could more authorities follow the lead of Westminster?

By Neil Cobbold

Back in September, Westminster Council launched a new strategy to...

Common sense tips for dealing with student tenants

By Matt Trevett

Clear communication and common-sense actions by landlords, letting agents and...

Latest legislation – how can agents and landlords be compliant?

By Lee Power

In recent years, the extent and role of the private...

How to make client accounting software migration a breeze

By Chris Mason

When letting agents are preparing to migrate from one piece...

Referral fee transparency shows why panel management is outdated

By David Jabbari

The latest review by the National Trading Standards Estate and...

How to carry out check-ins and check-outs in a Covid-compliant way

By Nick Lyons

The latest government rules combined with the Prime Minister’s recent...

Safety first: five-step risk assessment for agents’ offices

By Nick Wilson

With the high street open again, and the Chancellor’s temporary...

Agents will be crucial during extended eviction ban

By Neil Cobbold

The ban on evictions was due to end earlier this...

Letting agents still struggling to open bank accounts

By Chris Mason

Letting agents are struggling to open new bank accounts and...

Code of Practice marks welcome progress for RoPA recommendations

By Neil Cobbold

Earlier this month, it was revealed that property industry bodies...

Upfront property information – we need to stop ‘going round the houses’

By Beth Rudolf

At a recent Conveyancing Association webinar focused on the provision...

Property Natter – who are the industry’s major trade bodies?

By Nat Daniels

They are the names we hear about often, pushing for...

Losing control of client money poses serious risks for letting agents

By Jenny Markham

Most letting agents don’t set up a business to become...

'No DSS' lawsuits - what do letting agents need to know?

By Neil Cobbold

Over the last few years, there have been a number...

The final stages of Section 24 – where does this leave the PRS?

By Neil Cobbold

This month saw the introduction of the final stages of...

Short lets - should there be selective bans?

By Graham Norwood

There’s something of a conspiracy of silence over the problem...

Mandatory qualification legislation - an educator’s view

By David Hughes

As residential sales and lettings professionals we are conditioned to...

Lifetime deposits – what are the potential challenges and benefits for lettings?

By Neil Cobbold

Last November, as part of the Conservatives’ general election campaign,...

Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive: time to check your compliance

By Mark Halstead

Yesterday (January 10 2020), the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD)...

What does the new RICS Home Survey Standard mean for agents?

By Joe Arnold

As part of its commitment to promoting and enforcing high...

DPS adjudication case study: Do tenancy breaches lead to a full claim?

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

Training - how can you be the best estate agent?

By Jon Horton

Here at sales progression and communication tool mio, we recently...

A focus on professional development could improve our industry

By Chris Dietz

Being a market leader means staying on top of industry...

Why regulation is good for the deposit replacement sector

By Peter E Savage

Since I started working with Zero Deposit for me the market...

Going Green: are agents ready for buyers wanting eco-info?

By Graham Norwood

There’s a clear change of mood music in the country...

DPS adjudication case study: water damage and a deluge of evidence

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

DPS adjudication case study: Conflicting paperwork and a burden of proof

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

It Might Not Be A Popular Opinion But…Licensing – Just For Dogs And Pigs?

By Russell Quirk

How many of you are in favour of estate agents...

DPS adjudication case study: Rabbits and a ‘disappearing’ lawn mystery

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

Incoming – a summer of change for estate and letting agents

By Lloyd Clarke

You may be right in thinking that Brexit has dominated...

Landlords forced to conduct more background checks in post-Brexit Britain

By Pia Subramaniam

Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy that was implemented in 2012...

A moving tide of regulation making its way towards estate agents

By Beth Rudolf

It may well seem that the government is pre-occupied with...

DPS adjudication case study: Claim and counter-claim over arrears

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

Anti-money laundering: the key myths and misconceptions

By Luis Campbell

The UK property market can be seen by criminals as...

Should the estate agency industry stop resisting regulation?

By David Westgate

There was a time when the mere mention of the...

DPS adjudication case study: landlords claiming re-protection deposits

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

The government must stop using agents to carry out their dirty work

By David Westgate

I don’t believe it’s unfair to state that our government,...

No more ‘no DSS’ – is the government wasting its time?

By Joanne Young

Last week, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government...

DPS adjudication case study: Delivery claim made by landlord

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

This needs to be the start of redress reform, not the end

By Matthew Vickers

The dust may have settled on the government’s recent announcement...

DPS adjudication case study: Rent arrears challenged by evicted tenant

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

The importance of being part of a trade association

By Marc Da Silva

When it comes to letting a property, it is important...

DPS adjudication case study: replacement of a damaged carpet

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

DPS adjudication case study: charges for court appearances?

By Alexandra Coghlan-Forbes

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe...

Inside the new Regulation of Property Agents working party

By Graham Norwood

The title may be unfamiliar but most agents know by...

Increased Trading Standards budget should focus on CPRs compliance

By Beth Rudolf

You will perhaps have seen recently that the Government has...

Don’t fall foul of anti-money laundering rules

By Marc Da Silva

Does your company apply adequate customer due diligence measures when...

Referral fees – why a ban won’t make services cheaper

By Iain McKenzie

We are currently engaged in consultations with our members to...

Three-year tenancies will have biggest impact when things go wrong

By Louise Hebborn

Amid the headline-grabbing political manoeuvring over Brexit, a policy proposal...

Professionalising the estate agency sector – how long could this take?

By Eddie Goldsmith

As housing market stakeholders we’ve all had a month or...

Anti-money laundering and property: the government has upped the ante

By Michael Harris

The announcement that MPs will set up a Select Committee...

Estate agents - Ignore building regulations at your peril

By Steven Way

With reports continuing to focus on a slowing property market...

Ombudsmen get ready to slug it out for dominance

By Graham Norwood

Have you noticed a new turf war going on on...

Japanese knotweed: what estate agents need to know

By David Layland

When it comes to property, ‘Japanese knotweed’ are the two...

What do agents need to know about accepting payment in cryptocurrencies?

By Michael Harris

The UK property sector has been a hotbed for financial...

Client Money Protection insurance: Protecting you and your clients

By Richard Price

A new year means new predictions for what’s to come...

Property Natter: an eco-friendly approach and the importance of GDPR

By Nat Daniels

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes,...

Combatting a knotty problem for estate agents

By David Layland

Japanese knotweed, the invasive plant brought over to Britain in...

Lease Extensions – getting it right

By Mark Vinall

While there is a distinct market for flats held on...

Carbon monoxide myths: what do letting agents need to know?

By Peter Southcott

Landlords are being urged to step up and ensure that...

Should agents pay for an increased Trading Standards budget?

By Eddie Goldsmith

A large part of the DCLG’s Call for Evidence on...

Anti-money laundering regulations – collaboration is key

By Keith Dinsmore

A new EU crackdown on money laundering requires estate agency...

Financial crime – are estate agents at risk?

By Michael Harris

The spread and sophistication of financial crime in the UK...

Estate agents’ commission – some common failings

By Stephen Welfare

The Estate Agent’s Act 1979 is rapidly approaching its 40th...

Warning: Don’t fall foul of competition rules after CMA fines

By Simon Barnes

The decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to fine...

Get paid on time: Q&A with PayProp's Neil Cobbold

By Marc Da Silva

Having launched 13 years ago, PayProp, part of Humanstate Group,...

The return of the Green Deal - are you ready for MEES?

By Killian Pender

Some good news is here for landlords and letting agents...

Vetting tenants to ensure they are all they seem

By Marc Da Silva

When a tenant failed to pay any rent after the...

Nil deposit schemes – a new era for the rental market?

By Andy Halstead

Research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research has...

Sales Doctor: Winning more instructions part two

By Tony Morris

As discussed in our previous article, it’s all about the...

Avoid unwanted hassles: Q & A with Jack Webb-Heller, Rent4sure IT director

By Marc Da Silva

Living next to inconsiderate neighbours can be a nightmare, but...

Sales Doctor: The key to winning more instructions

By Tony Morris

Dear Sales Doctor, The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is...

Looking back at ten years of tenancy deposit schemes

By Steve Harriott

Ten years ago this month (April 2007) tenancy deposit schemes...

Compliance update: Council Tax liability – Tenancy agreements

By David d'Orton-Gibson

In a recent landmark Council Tax case, the Court of...

Compliance update: Immigration Act 2016

By Darrel Kwong

With effect from the 1st December 2016, amendments to the...

30 years after Suzy Lamplugh disappearance: agents are still vulnerable

By Danielle Jones

Liz runs her own estate agency in Gateshead. When researchers for the...

Redressing the wrongs of agents remains fair and impartial

By Marc Da Silva

When a tenant paid his initial one month’s rent in...

First-time buyers – how agents can help them through the legal process

By Kathryn Stone

Conveyancing is the most complained about area of law in...

Genuine concern for staff well-being is the most powerful motivator

By Samantha Jones

After two long years, Moneypenny finally moved into its new...

Tenancy deposit protection schemes offer peace of mind

By Marc Da Silva

For many people buy-to-let continues to look an attractive income...

What it takes to be a modern estate agent

By Chris Chapman

For young people the length and breadth of the UK,...

What is ‘Compliance in a Box’ all about?

By Marc Da Silva

With ever increasing obligations, estate agents know that compliance matters...

Money laundering due diligence: traditional checks vs electronic checks

By David Beaumont

This debate has been running for some time, but it...

Sales Doctor: How do I qualify applicants without sounding robotic?

By Tony Morris

Dear Sales Doctor, I'm aware I sound robotic when qualifying an...

Time to stick it up: Agents still not complying with transparency law

By Sean Hooker

Running a business is not easy, but sometimes it becomes...

Money laundering ID – what to do when acting for private individuals

By David Beaumont

Conducting Customer Due Diligence on clients and beneficial owners is...

How do you protect clients from themselves?

By Colin Shairp

When a potential buyer comes into the office and says...

Sales Doctor: Why do vendors say my fees are 'too expensive'?

By Tony Morris

Dear Sales Doctor, About 90% of my valuations end in the...

Money laundering customer due diligence: Beneficial owners

By David Beaumont

Straightforward money laundering customer due diligence (CDD) is a worry...

Money laundering customer due diligence on buyers – is it an obligation?

By David Beaumont

There is a substantial amount of misunderstanding over this question,...

Money laundering obligations – Who do they apply to?

By David Beaumont

There is widespread misunderstanding within agency concerning money laundering obligations.  The...

Tightening up money laundering obligations is a really bad idea

By David Beaumont

Money laundering compliance is the hot topic at the moment,...

How does an agency get the best out of training sessions?

By Iain White

Training or as I prefer to call it team development...

Could you be risking a fine?

By Sean Hooker

There are a number of fairly recent regulations that agents...

New legislation means letting agent training is more important than ever

By Richard Price

With a raft of new legislation introduced recently now will...

We need to make sure that lettings isn’t viewed as an industry of 'rogues'

By David Westgate

Headlines across the lettings industry often focus on the behaviour...

Sheffield: an example of how a local authority can enforce compliance

By Sean Hooker

It’s been nearly a year since all lettings and property...

Why agents need to do their ‘right to rent’ homework

By David Westgate

Stories of migrants attempting to make their way to the...

Will the end of The Green Deal make it harder for letting agents?

By Richard Price

The government recently pulled the plug on financing the Green...

How to ride the digital wave legally and fairly

By Rachel Haymes

The internet and rapidly evolving digital landscape has revolutionised the...

Deregulation Act: Agents in the know stand out

By Richard Price

After the passing of the Deregulation Act deposits deadline this...

Fee disclosure: Are you ready for an inspection?

By Sean Hooker

Earlier this week we passed the official deadline for letting...

Reaction: The Immigration Bill and immigration checks

By Simon Duce

"Stop right there. Hands above your head. Don't move. Mavis,...

Landlords must register old tenancy deposits – now!

By Rachel Haymes

In 2007, the government introduced a compulsory deposit protection scheme...

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