We all know what defines a successful community: not just a range of homes to address a range of requirements, but...
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![How Much Will Mortgage Rate Hikes Affect the UK Housing Market?](/upload/images/2%20How%20much%20will%20mortgage%20rate%20hikes%20-%20weekend%20features%20By%20Tom%20Bill%20Head%20of%20UK%20residential%20research%20at%20Knight%20Frank.jpg)
Borrowers are currently rolling off relatively favourable two-year fixed-rate deals agreed at the start of 2022, but the pain from higher...
30 March 2024
From: Features
![Competition watchdog frees 500 households from doubling ground rents](/upload/images/shutterstock_1750387934.jpg)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured agreements from eight freeholders to remove “problematic ground rent” terms from leases. The competition...
14 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Competition watchdog: ‘Significant intervention’ needed in housebuilding market](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Developments/Builders-400x310.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the UK’s largest housebuilders as it warns of “fundamental concerns”...
27 February 2024
From: Breaking News
![Buckle Up! It's Going To Be A Busy 2024](/upload/images/Phil%20Spencer%20NEW%20image.png)
Happy New Year and welcome to what’s looking like a busy - perhaps even hectic - 2024! I thought it worth running...
15 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![PropTech Today - Balancing AI innovation with the human touch](/upload/images/PropTech%20.jpg)
Large language models, machine learning, artificial intelligence, artificial general intelligence, and 'the singularity' change everything, but there again, they change literally...
29 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![CMA seeks feedback on landbanking and planning analysis](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyStats-400x310.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking feedback on two ‘working papers’ that detail its assessment on the use of...
16 November 2023
From: Breaking News
![Join the future of estate agency, today.](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/Moveli/360x.png)
Estate agency has changed. No longer is it required to sit in a high street office working the old way. Provide a...
12 September 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![What is ‘mixed tenure’ and why are mixed tenure developments built?](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/Sava/EAT%20image%20(5).png)
The term mixed-tenure development usually refers to residential developments where different residential tenures are provided on the same site. Typically, tenure was...
30 August 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Competition watchdog highlights areas for housing investigation](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/HouseInspection_400x310.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has highlighted land banks and planning blockages as potential areas for investigation. It comes as the...
29 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Levelling up: how a quality CRM provider helps your agency grow](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/ReapIT/RPT%20SC%204%20360x280.png)
Success with your chosen CRM solution should not be a one-and-done package. Once you team up with a stellar CRM provider,...
17 July 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Unlocking success: capabilities an ideal CRM toolbox should offer](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/ReapIT/RPT%20SC%203%20360x280.png)
CRMs can be superheroes for your business, but not all of them possess the necessary powers to save the day. As...
11 July 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Accelerating growth: the key advantages of implementing a CRM](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/ReapIT/RPT%20SC%202%20360x280.png)
By adopting a top-notch Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, you're not only opening doors to acquiring new customers and nurturing existing...
05 July 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Competition watchdog turns attention to housing market](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews2-400x310.png)
The competition watchdog is set to shine a spotlight on property, with investigations into the housebuilding market and a separate project...
01 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Condensation mould – a black mark for property](/upload/images/adv-2021/sponsored-content/Sava/360x280%20heading%20image%20-%20black%20mould.png)
Black mould associated with condensation is becoming an increasing problem for homes in the UK and following the tragic death of...
24 February 2023
From: Sponsored Content
![Property Natter - Incoming! It’s hard work to figure out the housing market](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Special%20Logo's/Property%20Natter.jpg)
Lies, damned lies, and statistics this week. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel as though I’m being bombarded...
11 February 2023
From: Features
![Competition watchdog secures ground rent reductions for leaseholders](/upload/images/library/New%20Rental%20Index-400x310.png)
Thousands more leaseholders are expected to see ground rents cut and some may even receive refunds. It forms part of the Competition...
25 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog drops investigation into builder’s leasehold sales](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Homes-MaginifyingGlass-400x310.jpg)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has closed its investigation into alleged mis-selling of leasehold houses by Barratt Homes. It is the...
17 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Dye & Durham considers possible appeal against CMA merger decision](/upload/images/Logos/CMA-logo400x310.png)
Dye & Durham says it could potentially appeal the decision by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to effectively disallow its acquistion...
04 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - travelling far and wide](/upload/images/Site%20logos/AgentsDoCharity-18-400x310.png)
Agents and property professionals are travelling far and wide to raise money for charity, plus there is a new way to...
27 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property data company hits back amid watchdog's merger concerns](/upload/images/Miscellaneous/MergerAcquisition-1-400x310.jpg)
Property data company Dye & Durham has promised to “work collaboratively” with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after the watchdog...
19 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Competition watchdog blocks property data merger](/upload/images/Logos/CMA-logo400x310.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned that it may block the merger of two property search firms as it...
18 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![POA: So how many agency listings could be 'unlawful?'](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Millennial-Tenant-Kitchen-400x310.jpg)
Agency trade bodies have backed the “clarity” provided by Trading Standards after it deemed “price on application” listings unlawful. It comes as...
06 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![Trading Standards: Why POA listings are unlawful](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/House-in-Hand-400x310.jpg)
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) deemed yesterday that the use of POA or “price on application”...
05 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![‘Price on application’ in property listings deemed unlawful](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/PropertyInformationKeys-400x310.jpg)
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has deemed that the use of POA or “price on application”...
04 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![More leaseholders freed from doubling ground rents](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/MichaelGove2-400x310.png)
Fifteen businesses which had bought freeholds from housing developer Countryside have now given formal undertakings to remove terms that cause ground...
21 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Revealed - why Trading Standards wants changes to property listings](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/PropertyInformationKeys-400x310.jpg)
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agent Team has released background information on how it came to make changes to...
24 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Breakthrough in ground rents and leasehold controversy](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/LeaseholdImage-2020-400x310.jpg)
A probe by the Competition and Markets Authority has led housebuilder Taylor Wimpey to make changes for the benefit of leaseholders. Taylor...
23 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![ALEP welcomes ground rents action as Countryside scraps unfair lease terms](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/UK-Houses-Row-2019-400x310.jpg)
The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has become the latest body to welcome the decision by Countryside Properties to scrap the requirement to pay...
17 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![National Leasehold Campaign backs latest CMA action on ground rents](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/NewHomes-400x310.png)
One of the biggest campaign groups calling for leasehold reform has welcomed the action taken by the Competition and Markets Authority...
16 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold victory – leaseholders with Countryside freed from costly terms](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/UK-Houses-Row-2019-400x310.jpg)
In what will be seen as the latest win for leaseholders across the UK, it’s been revealed that – following action...
15 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agency whistleblowers receive new guidance from watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
New guidance has been issued by the Competitions and Markets Authority for whistleblowers who want to report anti-competitive practices by their...
19 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![Fake estate agency reviews: Watchdog probes Google and Amazon](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competititon and Markets Authority says it’s to look into reviews on Google and Amazon, and see whether the online giants...
28 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground Rent refunds: Agents demand rest of industry must follow suit](/img/default/eat.png)
NAEA Propertymark says the news that two major players in the leasehold sector have reformed their activities must be just the...
24 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground rent refunds after watchdog strikes leasehold deal](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has struck a deal with house builders over leasehold abuses. Aviva has committed to remove certain terms...
23 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![How Open Banking will transform the lettings industry](/img/default/eat.png)
Banking has gone through radical changes in the past few years, in step with technology and the sheer amount we can...
29 May 2021
From: Features
![Fake Reviews: Watchdog pushes Facebook into action](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority says it has pushed Facebook into taking new action to combat fake reviews - an issue...
12 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ground rent scandal: Housebuilders bite back after attack by watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
Two of Britain’s largest house builders have reacted sharply to calls by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick and the Competition and Markets...
22 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Leasehold scandal: Top house builders ordered to change contracts](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has written to two top house builders ordering them to change their leasehold terms. In September the...
19 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![2021 will not hold back Agents who are prepared to adapt](/img/default/eat.png)
With the Government announcement this week of another national lockdown across England amid the surging coronavirus infections, it once again puts...
08 January 2021
From: Sponsored Content
![Connells buys Countrywide - deal to be completed in New Year](/img/default/eat.png)
In a dramatic New Year’s Eve statement on the London Stock Exchange, Countrywide has agreed the terms of a recommended offer...
31 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents can do more to speed up transactions by adopting technology](/img/default/eat.png)
Recent debate about urgent need for reform and better collaboration within the property industry, has once again come under the spotlight...
04 December 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Watchdog to probe merger of popular agency crowdfunding sites](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority is to probe the proposed merger of two crowdfunding sites used by numerous property industry companies. Crowdcube...
13 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![How can Open Banking benefit landlords and letting agents?](/img/default/eat.png)
Letting agents and landlords have faced huge change and uncertainty this year, with Covid-19 the major driver. But even before the...
05 November 2020
From: PropTech & Innovation
![Agents offered ‘leniency options’ to confess about industry cartels](/img/default/eat.png)
New guidance spells out how leniency can be exercised on agencies or individuals who inform on anti-competition cartels of the kind that...
05 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Keeping the property market moving](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s been an unexpected year for the property market, shaped by the effects of the pandemic. We didn’t quite anticipate the...
27 October 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![New warning to estate agents over illegal price-fixing](/img/default/eat.png)
The estate agency industry is still under the spotlight for possible illegal price fixing cartels according to the Competition and Markets...
11 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents back investigation into “unfair sales tactics” over leasehold](/img/default/eat.png)
NAEA Propertymark has thrown its weight behind a Competitions and Markets Authority investigation into whether consumer protection law has been broken...
07 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog launches probe into unfair sales tactics of leasehold homes](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority is today opening enforcement cases focusing on the sale of leasehold homes by four leading housebuilders. They...
04 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Victim of notorious agency price fixing hits out at lack of refund](/img/default/eat.png)
One of the victims of a notorious estate agency price fixing cartel has spoken out against one of the offenders. Christina Davis...
01 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Another agency chief targeted by CMA for future disqualification](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority - which yesterday announced it had disqualified two estate agency directors for their parts in a...
16 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Disgraced agency directors disqualified after price-fixing scandal](/img/default/eat.png)
Two estate agency directors have been disqualified by the Competition and Markets Authority after taking part in an illegal price fixing...
15 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog launches probe into fake and misleading online reviews](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into fake and misleading online reviews. The announcement from the watchdog does not...
22 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Searches: councils slammed as dangerous over face-to-face visits](/img/default/eat.png)
A trade body has reported some council search departments to the government for refusing to provide email details and forcing search...
16 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agency cartel scandal - watchdog wants agent directors disqualified](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority has started court proceedings seeking the disqualification of two estate agency directors over a price fixing...
31 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - fund-raising continues despite the challenge](/img/default/eat.png)
Welcome to the weekly salute for agents and others in the industry fund-raising for good causes - and we know that...
13 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Industry welcome for clampdown on developers’ leasehold sales](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been a broad welcome from agents and other industry organisations for the latest report from the Competition and Markets Authority...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents asked to confess if their firm has been price-fixing](/img/default/eat.png)
A new call has been issued this morning by the Competition and Markets Authority for estate agents to confess if their...
25 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog issues “strong signal” to rogue agents who price-fix](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority says it wants to send “a strong signal” to the estate agency industry that price-fixing will...
24 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![CMA releases cartel agents’ investigation details](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has released a 135 page document giving explicit details of its latest agency cartel investigation. This includes...
23 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Emoov online review row deepens as CMA probes wider problem](/img/default/eat.png)
There have been two developments on the controversial subject of online reviews. One concerns the online agency Emoov, which three months ago...
09 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Public asked to inform on other fee-fixing estate agents](/img/default/eat.png)
The public are being asked to inform the authorities if they know of agents operating fee-fixing cartels. The request - from the...
18 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Four agencies acted illegally in fee price cartel, says watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that four agencies broke competition law by taking part in a price fixing...
13 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![CMA launches investigation into sale of leasehold properties](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched an investigation into the sale of leasehold properties - including possible mis-selling. This follows...
11 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![‘Punish rip-off culprits’ - CMA urged to be aggressive on leasehold abuse](/img/default/eat.png)
A firm supporting leaseholders across the UK says the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority probe should “punish” what it calls “rip off...
24 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Commonhold in action – one small builder’s attempts to change the system](/img/default/eat.png)
So far in our contribution to the campaign to replace leasehold with commonhold we have outlined the stories of some of...
18 May 2019
From: Features
![Agents welcome CMA probe into 'mis-selling' of leasehold properties](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Association of Estate Agents has welcomed the commitment by the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the mis-selling of...
17 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Proceedings against ‘fees cartel’ agent dropped after he accepts disqualification](/img/default/eat.png)
Proceedings against an estate agent at the centre of a fees cartel case have been dropped following his agreement not to stand as...
30 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents back call for CMA probe into possible leasehold ‘mis-selling’](/img/default/eat.png)
The leasehold system has created many unsellable and unmortgageable homes and should change, MPs say. The all-party Housing, Communities and Local Government...
19 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![CMA wants two ‘cartel’ agency directors disqualified](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has this afternoon taken the latest step in the lengthy case of an estate agency cartel. This revolves...
27 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - and it's been a remarkable week…](/img/default/eat.png)
Few can deny that with announcements from MPs and an announcement from Purplebricks, that it’s been an extraordinary week. While it may...
22 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agency warns: high house prices and housing shortage hurting business](/img/default/eat.png)
Strutt & Parker says the housing crisis - in the shape of too few homes and their stubbornly high prices -...
05 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Cartels and anti-money laundering take centre stage at NAEA event](/img/default/eat.png)
The government policies and enforcement plans for anti-money laundering measures are set to take centre stage at next month’s annual conference...
22 January 2019
From: Breaking News
![Good and bad news: house prices up in 2019, but not in central London](/img/default/eat.png)
Estate agency Strutt & Parker says that despite Brexit and the economic and political uncertainty accompanying it, house prices in the...
12 December 2018
From: Breaking News
![Huge cash reward for estate agents who blow the whistle on price-fixing](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority is stepping up its campaign to identify and prosecute companies behind cartels - and it’s offering...
24 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![A new scandal? Investigation into estate agents likely to report in New Year](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority says the result of its latest probe into estate agencies’ possible infringement of the Competition Act...
08 October 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity: let us know what you are planning for Autumn...](/img/default/eat.png)
As our minds turn to autumn, here’s a reminder that Estate Agent Today is on hand to help with your agency’s...
17 August 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents' fees cartel : investigation blows the lid on how it was planned](/img/default/eat.png)
A disciplinary investigation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has blown the lid on the infamous fee-fixing cartel scandal involving estate...
20 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - end-to-end stuff for good causes...](/img/default/eat.png)
The World Cup may be entertaining us for the next few weeks but whatever England’s fate may be, one thing is...
15 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - on foot, by raffle and caked in mud](/img/default/eat.png)
As we move towards another Bank Holiday Weekend, there is no shortage of phenomenal fundraising efforts from those in our industry. If...
25 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Estate agency directors are disqualified over cartels scandal](/img/default/eat.png)
Two estate agency directors have been disqualified over a cartel scandal which resulted in five agencies being fined over £370,000 for...
10 April 2018
From: Breaking News
![CMA urges people to report unfair cartels that cheat customers](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority, which is believed to be actively investigating estate agents’ alleged infringement of the Competitions Act, is...
22 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Six months before CMA update on agents' alleged Competitions Act breach](/img/default/eat.png)
It is thought likely that there will be no new update on the investigation into agents’ alleged infringement of the Competitions...
06 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Competition and Markets Authority opens investigation into estate agencies](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority is investigating a suspect infringement of the Competition Act 1998 by estate agents. Few details have been...
02 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agents Do Charity - our salute to the industry's heroes](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s been a big week for property news - controversies surrounding Purplebricks, merger discussions between big franchise operators, and another government...
20 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Fee-fixing: CMA sets out what agencies can and cannot do and say](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has set out precisely what agents and other companies can and cannot do in the event...
10 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Homes that sell do so quicker than in 2012, says Rightmove](/img/default/eat.png)
The housing market may appear sluggish at best in many areas but data from Rightmove suggests it’s now quicker to sell...
10 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Warning: Don’t fall foul of competition rules after CMA fines](/img/default/eat.png)
The decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to fine five estate agents for engaging in a price fixing cartel has...
07 October 2017
From: Features
!['Cartels Hotline' launched on back of disgraced agencies' case](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority - which yesterday released details of an infamous cartel case involving estate agencies - has now...
19 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![CMA releases details of estate agents' cartel scheme](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has for the first time published details of the findings against a group of six estate...
18 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Vetting tenants to ensure they are all they seem](/img/default/eat.png)
When a tenant failed to pay any rent after the first month his tenancy last year, the landlord did not expect...
26 August 2017
From: Features
![CMA reveals details of go-ahead for ZPG/Expert Agent merger](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has released the full wording on its decision to give the go-ahead to ZPG’s acquisition of Expert...
25 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Regulators call for conveyancing to become more competitive, transparent](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competition and Markets Authority has released a set of recommendations on how conveyancing, and other legal services, could be made...
03 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Expert Agent 'relieved' ZPG acquisition uncertainty is over](/img/default/eat.png)
Expert Agent says it is pleased the uncertainty surrounding its takeover had ended but suggests the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement...
30 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Competition authority clears ZPG acquisition of Expert Agent](/img/default/eat.png)
ZPG, owner of digital platforms including Zoopla, uSwitch, PrimeLocation, Hometrack and Property Software Group, has been cleared by the Competition and...
29 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Baby boomers bemoan lack of suitable downsizing properties](/img/default/eat.png)
A research report compiled by Strutt & Parker in partnership with Octopus Healthcare has revealed what the baby boomer generation expects...
13 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Housing industry reacts to shock general election result](/img/default/eat.png)
The housing industry has responded with shock, joy, and jitters, after Theresa May’s snap general election went catastrophically wrong, leaving her...
10 June 2017
From: Features
![CMA releases details of ZPG/Expert Agent enforcement order](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority has released more details of its ‘calling-in’ of the acquisition of Expert Agent by Zoopla Property...
03 April 2017
From: Breaking News
![ZPG's acquisition of Expert Agent called in by Competition and Markets Authority](/img/default/eat.png)
The Competitions and Markets Authority is reviewing the acquisition of Expert Agent by ZPG, parent company of Zoopla and PrimeLocation. A statement...