Archive

The Competition and Markets Authority says it has pushed Facebook into taking new action to combat fake reviews - an issue...

Two of Britain’s largest house builders have reacted sharply to calls by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick and the Competition and Markets...

The Competition and Markets Authority has written to two top house builders ordering them to change their leasehold terms. In September the...

With the Government announcement this week of another national lockdown across England amid the surging coronavirus infections, it once again puts...

In a dramatic New Year’s Eve statement on the London Stock Exchange, Countrywide has agreed the terms of a recommended offer...

Recent debate about urgent need for reform and better collaboration within the property industry, has once again come under the spotlight...

The Competitions and Markets Authority is to probe the proposed merger of two crowdfunding sites used by numerous property industry companies. Crowdcube...

Letting agents and landlords have faced huge change and uncertainty this year, with Covid-19 the major driver. But even before the...

New guidance spells out how leniency can be exercised on agencies or individuals who inform on anti-competition cartels of the kind that...

It’s been an unexpected year for the property market, shaped by the effects of the pandemic. We didn’t quite anticipate the...

The estate agency industry is still under the spotlight for possible illegal price fixing cartels according to the Competition and Markets...

NAEA Propertymark has thrown its weight behind a Competitions and Markets Authority investigation into whether consumer protection law has been broken...

The Competition and Markets Authority is today opening enforcement cases focusing on the sale of leasehold homes by four leading housebuilders. They...

One of the victims of a notorious estate agency price fixing cartel has spoken out against one of the offenders.  Christina Davis...

The Competition and Markets Authority - which yesterday announced it had disqualified two estate agency directors for their parts in a...

Two estate agency directors have been disqualified by the Competition and Markets Authority after taking part in an illegal price fixing...

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into fake and misleading online reviews. The announcement from the watchdog does not...

A trade body has reported some council search departments to the government for refusing to provide email details and forcing search...

The Competitions and Markets Authority has started court proceedings seeking the disqualification of two estate agency directors over a price fixing...

Welcome to the weekly salute for agents and others in the industry fund-raising for good causes - and we know that...

There’s been a broad welcome from agents and other industry organisations for the latest report from the Competition and Markets Authority...

A new call has been issued this morning by the Competition and Markets Authority for estate agents to confess if their...

The Competition and Markets Authority says it wants to send “a strong signal” to the estate agency industry that price-fixing will...

The Competition and Markets Authority has released a 135 page document giving explicit details of its latest agency cartel investigation. This includes...

There have been two developments on the controversial subject of online reviews. One concerns the online agency Emoov, which three months ago...

The public are being asked to inform the authorities if they know of agents operating fee-fixing cartels. The request - from the...

The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that four agencies broke competition law by taking part in a price fixing...

The Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched an investigation into the sale of leasehold properties - including possible mis-selling. This follows...

A firm supporting leaseholders across the UK says the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority probe should “punish” what it calls “rip off...

So far in our contribution to the campaign to replace leasehold with commonhold we have outlined the stories of some of...

The National Association of Estate Agents has welcomed the commitment by the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the mis-selling of...

Proceedings against an estate agent at the centre of a fees cartel case have been dropped following his agreement not to stand as...

The leasehold system has created many unsellable and unmortgageable homes and should change, MPs say. The all-party Housing, Communities and Local Government...

The Competition and Markets Authority has this afternoon taken the latest step in the lengthy case of an estate agency cartel. This revolves...

Few can deny that with announcements from MPs and an announcement from Purplebricks, that it’s been an extraordinary week.  While it may...

Strutt & Parker says the housing crisis - in the shape of too few homes and their stubbornly high prices -...

The government policies and enforcement plans for anti-money laundering measures are set to take centre stage at next month’s annual conference...

Estate agency Strutt & Parker says that despite Brexit and the economic and political uncertainty accompanying it, house prices in the...

The Competition and Markets Authority is stepping up its campaign to identify and prosecute companies behind cartels - and it’s offering...

The Competitions and Markets Authority says the result of its latest probe into estate agencies’ possible infringement of the Competition Act...

As our minds turn to autumn, here’s a reminder that Estate Agent Today is on hand to help with your agency’s...

A disciplinary investigation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has blown the lid on the infamous fee-fixing cartel scandal involving estate...

The World Cup may be entertaining us for the next few weeks but whatever England’s fate may be, one thing is...

As we move towards another Bank Holiday Weekend, there is no shortage of phenomenal fundraising efforts from those in our industry.  If...

Two estate agency directors have been disqualified over a cartel scandal which resulted in five agencies being fined over £370,000 for...

The Competition and Markets Authority, which is believed to be actively investigating estate agents’ alleged infringement of the Competitions Act, is...

It is thought likely that there will be no new update on the investigation into agents’ alleged infringement of the Competitions...

The Competitions and Markets Authority is investigating a suspect infringement of the Competition Act 1998 by estate agents. Few details have been...

It’s been a big week for property news - controversies surrounding Purplebricks, merger discussions between big franchise operators, and another government...

The Competition and Markets Authority has set out precisely what agents and other companies can and cannot do in the event...

The housing market may appear sluggish at best in many areas but data from Rightmove suggests it’s now quicker to sell...

The decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to fine five estate agents for engaging in a price fixing cartel has...

The Competition and Markets Authority - which yesterday released details of an infamous cartel case involving estate agencies - has now...

The Competition and Markets Authority has for the first time published details of the findings against a group of six estate...

When a tenant failed to pay any rent after the first month his tenancy last year, the landlord did not expect...

The Competition and Markets Authority has released the full wording on its decision to give the go-ahead to ZPG’s acquisition of Expert...

The Competition and Markets Authority has released a set of recommendations on how conveyancing, and other legal services, could be made...

Expert Agent says it is pleased the uncertainty surrounding its takeover had ended but suggests the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement...

ZPG, owner of digital platforms including Zoopla, uSwitch, PrimeLocation, Hometrack and Property Software Group, has been cleared by the Competition and...

A research report compiled by Strutt & Parker in partnership with Octopus Healthcare has revealed what the baby boomer generation expects...

The housing industry has responded with shock, joy, and jitters, after Theresa May’s snap general election went catastrophically wrong, leaving her...

The Competitions and Markets Authority has released more details of its ‘calling-in’ of the acquisition of Expert Agent by Zoopla Property...

The Competitions and Markets Authority is reviewing the acquisition of Expert Agent by ZPG, parent company of Zoopla and PrimeLocation. A statement...

The Competition and Markets Authority is to review the operation of new home structural warranties issued by the National House Building...

It seems prop-tech is exploding at a scary rate, and the latest brands are all trying to grab our attention by...

Some big news in the agency world last week won’t have escaped the attention of many in the industry. Last Thursday news...

One of the four estate agents fined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for price-fixing has spoken about the details...

The Competition and Markets Authority has now fined agents over £1m in two landmark cases concerning price-fixing - and it says...

Four Somerset estate agents have agreed to pay fines totalling over £370,000 to the Competition and Markets Authority, after admitting illegal price-fixing.   The...

Annoying isn’t it. You take on a stunning property, agree a compelling asking price and your Vendor is desperate to get the...

Following a strong start to 2016, particularly in the lower to middle range of the UK housing market, that lasted up...

Conveyancers are to be told to publish the charges for their house-moving services in a bid to help consumers and to...

2016 has undoubtedly shone a spotlight on the reviews industry and drawn into question the legitimacy of online customer reviews.  Amazon, amongst...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is the latest body within the industry to warn its members against portal juggling. Following statements...

It is fair to say that 2016 is a year full of surprises. Anyone who had the foresight to predict Britain...

The latest forecast for the housing market in 2017 and beyond includes a warning that Brexit uncertainty will create a slowdown...

Online reviews play an increasingly vital role in shaping the decisions of customers. Practically everyone using the internet to compare estate...

The key lies in improving your customer experience through technology For Agents, the tremendous growth in online estate agents highlights a strong...

The government is reported to have yet again delayed a decision on whether to privatise the Land Registry. The Financial Times says...

What is Properstar? Properstar helps UK estate agents cross the chasm from local to global in respect of advertising their properties. Using...

Paying too much every month for your website? Move your website to us and we guarantee to halve your monthly bill I want...

The Residential Property Surveyors Association is the latest of many trade bodies to come out against government proposals to privatise the...

It has been revealed this morning that OnTheMarket has been ordered to pay £1m into court - three quarters of it...

A fine of £735,000 imposed on an association of estate and letting agents and a local newspaper publisher has been described...

The Competition and Markets Authority has reiterated controversial remarks about the government’s proposed privatisation of the Land Registry. Last month it surprised...

The government's consultation on the proposed privatisation of the Land Registry closes today. Interested parties have had since March 24 to give...

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has challenged the government over its renewed attempt to privatise the Land Registry. Last week's Queen's...

The Competition and Markets Authority - which has been active in the estate agency industry since its inception in April 2014...

The race to replace London Mayor Boris Johnson has entered its final few days, and like never before, housing is the...

Leaked emails dating from 2013 and seen this week by Estate Agent Today appear to show a number of estate agencies...

A London agent says he has quit OnTheMarket and Agents’ Mutual as a result of the intervention of the Competitions and Markets...

Beleaguered challenger portal OnTheMarket has recruited the 25-branch south of England agency Goadsby and says this takes its total of sales...

The Independent Network of Estate Agents has written to the Competition and Markets Authority, raising the issue of the NAEA’s managing...

By accident or design, the PR machine at OnTheMarket was beefed up last week.  Just as well. With the portal still reeling...

One of the directors of Agents’ Mutual, parent body of portal OnTheMarket, has told Estate Agent Today that his firm does...

After over a year of speculation, the Competition and Markets Authority has stepped into the row over OnTheMarket and its ‘one...

The Competitions and Markets Authority has sent two open letters - one to online publishers and one to marketeers - warning...

The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered a company to stop writing fake reviews for small businesses and to try to...

The raterAgent website is to use an automatic email generating service to encourage more reviews. raterAgent has teamed up with Reapit to...

The Competition and Markets Authority has updated its advice to all online review sites - including those for estate agencies and...

Let Mid West Displays get your window in shape! Never underestimate the power of high street presence. Image is everything, and what...

The Competition and Markets Authority says one of its priorities for 2016-17 is to pursue a project analysing the accuracy and...

There are just three weeks before Christmas (and a well-deserved break for agents).  But in the meantime there are plenty of opportunities...

The Competitions and Markets Authority - which earlier this year fined an estate agency trade group £735,000 - has set out...

Strutt & Parker is early off the marks with its forecast for 2016 and beyond, predicting the strongest market growth in...

Two more agencies have set up new home divisions - a barometer of how they anticipate residential development becoming a bigger...

The Property Ombudsman and the Competition and Markets Authority have prepared a supplementary guidance note to help agents ensure compliance with the Competition Act.  The...

The consumer is King and to protect sellers and buyers' best interests estate and letting agents have to operate in the...

Readers of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today were given an exclusive opportunity to pose questions to Zoopla Property Group...

Time Inc, the owner and publisher of Country Life, has received a query from the founder of the Independent Network of...

The Competition and Markets Authority says it is still monitoring the major property portals.  A statement to Estate Agent Today by the...

The estate agency industry is “in the sights of” the Competitions and Markets Authority according to a competition lawyer. “All the evidence...

The fines issued by the Competition and Markets Authority on a local association of estate agents and three of its members...

The internet and rapidly evolving digital landscape has revolutionised the way people buy and sell properties. With some reports suggesting 95 per...

Watch the latest weekly video roundup of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on complaints lodged...

Watch the latest weekly video roundup of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on complaints lodged...

The property centre in the middle of the latest controversy surrounding the Competition and Markets Authority says it is still waiting...

The Competition and Markets Authority is reported to have received two complaints about a property centre, accusing it of breaking anti-competition...

The Competition and Markets Authority has used Twitter to inform agents of the risks of joining trade assocaitons with loosely-worded or...

Watch the latest weekly video roundup of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on the CMA's...

Watch the latest weekly video roundup of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on the CMA's...

Yesterday we heard about the letter from the CMA warning agents about anti-competitive behaviour. Today, in a scoop for Estate Agent...

The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) is to meet with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to discuss complaints...

This publication recently reported on Russell Quirk's latest attempt to upset the establishment, this time by attacking the hallowed ground of...

Earlier this week we passed the official deadline for letting agents to fully publicise their fees as well as providing evidence of...

OK, you’ve had your fun. Now let’s leave the regulators regulate and work for the public. If you don’t know what I...

Online estate agency eMoov has lodged a complaint with the Competition and Markets Authority over high street agents’ implementation of sole...