It’s often fashionable to criticise trade bodies and official groups, but right now I think that’s absolutely inappropriate. In well over 20...
Archive

This question is not as flippant as it sounds because over recent years the status of the private landlord has taken...
11 June 2022
From: Features

Why the urgency? Because the appetite is strong. Research by the Conveyancing Association reports that 98% of consumers are overwhelmingly in...
01 June 2022
From: Breaking News

Propertymark has expressed hope that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will help boost much needed agency supply. The trade body has...
16 May 2022
From: Breaking News

Just this month, the Government Property Agency kicked off its search for a digital chief to lead its 10-year technology journey,...
14 May 2022
From: Features

Millions of people use online property portals every year to conduct their property search, whether it be for sales or for...
11 May 2022
From: Features
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The Queen’s Speech has unveiled proposed overhauls on planning, consumer and economic crime laws that could all have an effect on...
10 May 2022
From: Breaking News

Agents are being urged not to fear exams when it comes to new industry qualifications for the sector. The industry is still awaiting...
10 May 2022
From: Breaking News

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

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

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

An industry veteran who helped train Purplebricks agents has partnered with easyProperty to foster its franchisee talent. The online hybrid agent is...
04 May 2022
From: Breaking News

The property industry is fortunate in including many great people, doing great work across a range of businesses – from traditional agency...
30 April 2022
From: Features

You will hopefully have seen that the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 has now received its Royal Assent, meaning it...
30 April 2022
From: Features

The government has insisted it is still committed to introducing agency qualifications and minimum standards in the sector. It is almost three...
19 April 2022
From: Breaking News

The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) chief executive Gareth Samples has called for a steer on when the long-awaited Regulation of Property...
11 April 2022
From: Breaking News

As amendments to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm legislation loom for rented properties later this year, we look at how inventory...
09 April 2022
From: Features

Agents will be able to grill Rightmove’s legal and compliance director David Cox this morning as part of the portal’s webinar...
05 April 2022
From: Breaking News

They say that in fashion, if you wait for long enough, clothes that are hanging at the back of your wardrobe...
02 April 2022
From: Features

A legal expert has warned that everyone is theoretically at risk of committing a breach of sanctions against Russia - but...
16 March 2022
From: Breaking News

There’s still one part of the UK where agents enjoy almost unfettered freedom without legislation or redress - and this has...
15 March 2022
From: Breaking News

Glynis Frew will be stepping down as managing director of franchise giant Hunters from the end of this month after 20...
07 March 2022
From: Breaking News

The government is considering seizing British property owned by Russian oligarchs on the sanctions list without paying compensation. The Financial Times says Housing...
03 March 2022
From: Breaking News

It is claimed by Propertymark that the government’s Economic Crime Bill - to be debated in the House of Commons today -...
01 March 2022
From: Breaking News
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The outcome of the Ukraine crisis is far from certain, but one thing has become abundantly clear. The long-overdue Economic Crime...
26 February 2022
From: Features

A bid to regulate second home ownership in part of the UK through changes to planning policy will add complexity and...
25 February 2022
From: Breaking News

A PropTech supplier has been quick off the mark to launch a tool which it says will help agents satisfy new...
25 February 2022
From: Breaking News

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

A leading property lawyer says some agents will struggle to meet the demand for more ‘material information’ put forward by Trading...
23 February 2022
From: Breaking News

Rightmove is running a series of webinars this month focused on legislation affecting agents. Tomorrow the former ARLA Propertymark supreme David Cox...
07 February 2022
From: Breaking News
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The government’s Levelling Up White Paper, released today, contains an unexpected and shock commitment - to create a new 'lite' version...
02 February 2022
From: Breaking News

In this guest feature, James Dilgul, Head of Marketing at Fixflo, the market-leading repairs and maintenance management software provider, looks at how...
22 January 2022
From: Features

A leading accountant is warning of a possible stamp duty change affecting residential property this year. HMRC is currently consulting on a...
10 January 2022
From: Breaking News

Leasehold, quite rightly, remains not just an emotive topic given what has happened over the past decade, but it’s very much...
18 December 2021
From: Features

The government’s plan to put Energy Performance Certificates at the heart of its bid to reach Net Zero has hit a stumbling...
30 November 2021
From: Breaking News

As we all know, the sector is constantly evolving and as we start to get to grips with the changes, another...
17 November 2021
From: Breaking News

The Pandora Papers - the biggest ever leak of offshore data - has revealed that the UK’s property market is being...
30 October 2021
From: Features

Pressure appears to be building for the recommendations of the Regulation of Property Agents working party finally to be implemented. It’s now...
26 October 2021
From: Breaking News

Disclaimer: This article is intended for information only and does not constitute legal advice. As part of its 2020 budget, the UK...
23 October 2021
From: Features

The class action taken by former self-employed workers against two online agencies should be a warning to other firms breaking the...
21 October 2021
From: Breaking News

Agents are being advised to go above and beyond the legal requirements for anti-money laundering requirements. Paul Offley, compliance officer for The...
13 October 2021
From: Breaking News

The government has released details of a new property tax. It’s the Residential Property Developer Tax, first announced at the start of...
11 October 2021
From: Breaking News

A leading planning consultancy has claimed that ‘the myth’ that housing developers are hoarding land after gaining planning consent in order...
23 September 2021
From: Breaking News

Drone technology has come on a long way in recent years, with different use cases across various industries. New developments in...
15 September 2021
From: Sponsored Content
Better AML solutions needed amid warnings of possible impacts of Afghanistan exit on financial crime

Regulators are warning the UK’s property, finance and legal sectors to be aware of the possible impacts of the exit from...
09 September 2021
From: Sponsored Content

Over the last three years there has been a quiet revolution in the tenant referencing market. Starting with the 2019 tenant...
08 September 2021
From: Features

Since the announcement of the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA), an increasing amount of Principle, Partners and Directors (PPD) from the...
04 September 2021
From: Features

We are living in the age of information. Our working and personal lives are underpinned by software, data and technology to...
04 September 2021
From: Features

The growing number of lettings sector rules is a hotly debated issue, while the sales sector has been seeing its own...
01 September 2021
From: Breaking News

Proposals to resuscitate the self-build housing sector have been welcomed by the government. Conservative MP Richard Bacon has published an independent report...
24 August 2021
From: Breaking News

Admin teams in most businesses are often the lynchpins that ensure compliance and deal with issues in order to keep the...
14 August 2021
From: Features

A recent news story will have set alarm bells ringing for agencies up and down the country, when it was revealed...
31 July 2021
From: Features

A new service launched over the weekend, proposing to charge buyers £30 for a “guaranteed” viewing, has split opinions amongst estate...
26 July 2021
From: Breaking News

Our long-awaited ‘Freedom Day’ approaches. From Monday all of the restrictions, introduced since the Covid-19 pandemic made an impact across the...
17 July 2021
From: Features

High end agency Savills is conducting “a full investigation” into a racist tweet posted overnight. A Savills statement posted on Twitter this...
12 July 2021
From: Breaking News

The government and property industry have been talking about it for a long time, and there have been numerous initiatives introduced...
07 July 2021
From: Breaking News

A council cracking down on the increase of illegally positioned estate agent boards. Agents are required, under Planning and Highways legislation to...
04 June 2021
From: Breaking News
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In an industry which is faced with constant changes in day-to-day practices and even more so given the Covid terrain which agents...
22 May 2021
From: Features

With property fraud on the rise and an ever-increasing number of transactions taking place in the lettings sector, having strict anti-money laundering...
22 May 2021
From: Features

The Trading Standards agency team has outlined to Estate Agent Today the process it will follow to improve what it calls...
18 May 2021
From: Breaking News

The controversial demands of Trading Standards for more “material information” to be provided upfront in property details have been criticised by...
17 May 2021
From: Breaking News

It’s been quite a week for the rental sector. Lettings agents and landlords have had such a torrid time in recent years...
15 May 2021
From: Features

The government has set up a committee to push forward ideas on the collective form of homeownership known as commonhold. Housing Secretary...
14 May 2021
From: Breaking News
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Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Bal Arora – Managing Director In your experience, what is the...
13 May 2021
From: 60 Second Interview

On 28 April 2021, Fixflo ran the first in a series of quarterly legal update webinars with David Smith, Partner at...
12 May 2021
From: Features

Local elections rarely set the pulse racing and this year’s poll on Thursday faces a similar problem. But this time, it’s a...
01 May 2021
From: Features

We have more regulations controlling the sector than ever before and we have more ‘regulators’ involved in controlling the sector than...
01 May 2021
From: Features

As an estate agent, you should of course be performing robust Know Your Customer (KYC) checks as part of your Anti-Money...
01 May 2021
From: Features

National Trading Standards wants agents, portals and industry groups to come up with ways to provide basic essential material information ‘upfront’. The National...
20 April 2021
From: Breaking News

For many, the funeral of HRH Prince Philip will be a solemn affair, while for some it will also be a...
17 April 2021
From: Features

We’re officially transitioning to summer – marked by the clocks going forward and warmer weather – just as restrictions start to...
15 April 2021
From: Sponsored Content

Licensing of the short-term lets sector in Scotland was due to be introduced next month. However, it was recently announced that...
03 April 2021
From: Features

Estate agents play a key role in identifying tax savings that can benefit all parties. If a purchaser can benefit from...
03 April 2021
From: Features

Mental health – and the importance of good mental health – has become a vital thing for all of us in...
01 April 2021
From: Breaking News

With March marking one year since the beginning of the first national lockdown across all four nations of Britain in response...
31 March 2021
From: Features

Earlier this month, Fixflo held a webinar with David Cox, legal and compliance director of Rightmove, to discuss key government policies...
31 March 2021
From: Features

Unsurprisingly it’s been a busy few months in the property market so far this year, and a busy few months in...
27 March 2021
From: Features

From 4 May 2021, your agency could be blocked from charging late fees, compounding interest on missing rent and taking any...
20 March 2021
From: Features

In this week’s In Conversation Today, I speak with Anthony Payne, Managing Director and co-founder of LonRes, a data and network...
04 March 2021
From: Breaking News

Being a letting agent today means keeping up to date with the long list of rules and regulations governing how a...
20 February 2021
From: Features

The government has given details of two new taxes to provide funds to address the cladding problem on high rise tower blocks...
11 February 2021
From: Breaking News

There is little doubt that the last year was one which none of us will easily forget both personally and professionally....
27 January 2021
From: Features

Estate agency offices in Wales with five or more staff will have to carry out a Coronavirus risk assessment under new...
18 January 2021
From: Breaking News

In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to order a driverless car to collect you and then drive you to...
13 January 2021
From: Features

Countrywide and Foxtons have thrown their weight behind an idea to identify every single UK residential property with a unique number. The...
13 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Leading leasehold experts have sharply criticised the much-hyped reforms announced by the government last week. The Leasehold Group of Companies - formerly led by...
11 January 2021
From: Breaking News
02 January 2021
From: Features

Propertymark has told the government that it needs to introduce overarching regulation of agents now, because existing piecemeal provisions are unmanageable...
24 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Start-up letting agents looking to enter the market are finding it increasingly difficult to set up in business as banks point...
19 December 2020
From: Features
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This is a time of year when many people consider buying a pet as a present but for the millions of...
16 December 2020
From: Features

The coronavirus pandemic has somewhat eclipsed Brexit this year – which is no mean feat. Cast your mind back to pre-Covid...
12 December 2020
From: Features

The Homes Act requires landlords to consider whether their tenants' indoor air is safe. Five key air contaminants are listed in...
12 December 2020
From: Features

The Boomin portal, which incentivises agents to cross-sell and benefit from referral fees, is to receive advice on fee disclosure from...
19 November 2020
From: Breaking News

As lockdown – Season 2, the sequel no one asked for – gets underway in England, landlords, tenants and agents will...
10 November 2020
From: Sponsored Content

What are the best ways for a letting agency to generate additional revenue and stay ahead of the competition? Management fees are...
07 November 2020
From: Features

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

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher announced that the introduction of the Renters' Reform Bill will be delayed for an indefinite period due...
31 October 2020
From: Features

The mandatory qualifications expected of agents have not been forgotten and will come into effect in two or three years. That’s the...
29 October 2020
From: Breaking News

David Cox is joining Rightmove next week in a dramatic return to the industry. Cox left the ARLA Propertymark in late July after...
28 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The announcement of the Renters’ Reform Bill in the Queen’s speech last December caused a collective groan across the country from...
27 October 2020
From: Legislation & Compliance

In recent years, the extent and role of the private rented sector (PRS) in the housing market has seen significant changes. The...
24 October 2020
From: Features

Book review by Graham Norwood, editor of Estate Agent Today, Letting Agent Today and Landlord Today. If a letting agent wants to...
17 October 2020
From: Features

In early September, mio achieved an industry first with the release of the mio chain view API. Now, all the parties...
10 October 2020
From: Features

A security company says it is “disappointing” the estate agency industry is only around 55 per cent through preparations to cope...
09 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents has thrown its weight behind the recommendation of Trading Standards that agents must by law be...
05 October 2020
From: Breaking News

We all know what the problem is, but what’s the solution? The problem is that landlords, thinking they offer a valuable service...
03 October 2020
From: Features

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 have been in place for several months now. While letting...
03 October 2020
From: Features

As the review of the recommendations of the Regulation of Property Agents Working Group continues, Emily Hawthorne, mio Account Manager and...
01 October 2020
From: Sponsored Content
Are agents swimming upstream against the Electrical Safety Regulations? 3 months on from the introduction of the ‘Electrical Safety Standards in the...
29 September 2020
From: Sponsored Content

Propertymark, which will from later this year combine both the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting...
24 September 2020
From: Breaking News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that all retail staff will be obliged to wear masks when working - and it's now...
22 September 2020
From: Breaking News

Despite the recent effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still much opportunity in the market for letting agents to grow...
19 September 2020
From: Features

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been criticised for its lack of enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) legislation so far in...
18 September 2020
From: Breaking News

The government has published draft legislation giving further details on the two per cent stamp duty surcharge on non-residents purchasing residential...
10 September 2020
From: Breaking News

The letting industry has come a long way over the past few years, embracing regulation and taking pride in doing good...
09 September 2020
From: Features

Since June 1, under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, landlords in England have been...
26 August 2020
From: Features

Letting agents are struggling to open new bank accounts and even large established letting agents with a long history of trading...
22 August 2020
From: Features

If anyone thought the days of Purplebricks bosses making millions were in the past, think again. The chief executive and chief finance...
18 August 2020
From: Breaking News

Life as we know it has changed – for everybody – and what tenants want, need and expect in this post-pandemic...
15 August 2020
From: Features

House raffles and similar competitions have become mired in controversy in recent years, thanks to some of them failing to abide by...
06 August 2020
From: Breaking News

A law practice says HM Revenue & Customs is launching a probe into companies that have allegedly abused the Coronavirus furlough...
04 August 2020
From: Breaking News

A vendor who suffered a fall-through on the sale of his five bedroom home in West Yorkshire is now trying to...
28 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Agents now have a chance to say what they think should be in a new Code of Conduct being discussed following...
20 July 2020
From: Breaking News

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 - which require increased electrical testing in rental properties...
15 July 2020
From: Features

They are the names we hear about often, pushing for this or seeking clarifications on that. They are the representatives of...
04 July 2020
From: Features

Estate agents facing crippling running costs as the wider impacts of the Coronavirus crisis hit home may benefit, at least in...
25 June 2020
From: Breaking News

To most people, purchasing a home is the single most significant financial commitment made across a lifetime. Given the impact and...
13 June 2020
From: Features

Over the last few years, there have been a number of high-profile court cases in which renters took action against letting...
30 May 2020
From: Features

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? My name is Tom Harrington and I’m the founder and...
26 May 2020
From: 60 Second Interview
Letting agents up and down the country have undoubtedly felt the financial strain added by the outbreak of COVID19. Whilst this will continue,...
26 May 2020
From: Sponsored Content

In these unprecedented times, Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) aims to reassure letting agents, landlords and tenants on any legislative changes, relating...
06 May 2020
From: Features

Hello - we hope you had as good an Easter as possible in these unusual circumstances, and welcome back to work. Now...
14 April 2020
From: Breaking News

Former housing minister Alok Sharma has revealed new measures to allow agencies and other businesses to avoid insolvency during the virus...
30 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Hello: so much has happened since the last Conquering Corona column . Before we get on with it, a reminder to...
24 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Hello and here’s the next batch of guidance and advice from different sectors of the industry, many from influential trade groups. It’s...
19 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Good morning and welcome to the industry’s daily update on how we cope with the challenge of social distancing and self-isolation...
18 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? My name is Jon Notley and I am the co-founder...
12 March 2020
From: 60 Second Interview

Your business may be growing quicker than you could ever imagine which is great when it comes to raising brand awareness....
11 March 2020
From: Features

By now, most letting agents and landlords will have heard about the draft legislation laid in Parliament concerning a mandatory minimum...
04 March 2020
From: Features

The Trading Standards report on the future of referral fees is almost completed and will be sent to government next week. However, James...
28 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Earlier this month, Boris Johnson carried out a reshuffle of his cabinet, telling ministers they must 'repay the trust of those...
22 February 2020
From: Features

As residential sales and lettings professionals we are conditioned to adapt to change, it’s the nature of the profession. However, developments...
15 February 2020
From: Features

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Joanne (Jo) Tattum. Channel Manager - Property What is Moneypenny and...
14 February 2020
From: 60 Second Interview

The chair of the working group introducing mandatory examinations and qualifications for estate and letting agents says senior politicians will meet...
04 February 2020
From: Breaking News

Last November, as part of the Conservatives’ general election campaign, Boris Johnson made a surprise announcement that his party would introduce...
01 February 2020
From: Features

Some older estate agents may end up retiring when mandatory examinations and qualifications are introduced as there will be no ‘free...
28 January 2020
From: Breaking News

Suddenly Brexit Day is nearly here. It may have taken three and a half years from the Referendum but the UK will,...
25 January 2020
From: Features

“Give me 100 leads and I will make five-times more good appointments than any AI you put me up against,” stated...
22 January 2020
From: Breaking News

As I look towards this year, I am sure that my thoughts are the same as many within the industry. I am...
18 January 2020
From: Features

Yesterday (January 10 2020), the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) became law. It forms part of ongoing international efforts to tackle...
11 January 2020
From: Features

It's been two years since the SDL Group launched its franchise block management business, SDL Property Partners, the first of its...
28 December 2019
From: Features

When looking back on the property market this year, the main message we can take is that it has remained extremely...
21 December 2019
From: Features

The European Union’s highest court has ruled that Airbnb is not subject to strict rules governing estate and lettings agents in...
20 December 2019
From: Breaking News

The government has given details of a scheme allowing 30 per cent reductions for what it calls ‘local first time buyers’...
19 December 2019
From: Breaking News

Yes, believe it or not, we’ve nearly reached the end of a whole decade. And what an eventful decade it’s been. We’ve...
14 December 2019
From: Features

It’s been clear for a while that the additional regulation landlords and agents are facing has helped professionalise the private rental...
30 November 2019
From: Features

The National Audit Office, a spending watchdog, has exposed the government’s Starter Homes policy with a damning critique of its failure The...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News

In recent months, we’ve seen headlines dominated by changes to tenancy rules, government consultations and more than a few scare stories. Landlords...
30 October 2019
From: Features

Countrywide’s upmarket brand Hamptons International is urging all owners of homes with septic tanks to prepare for new regulations that kick...
29 October 2019
From: Breaking News

Welcome back to Property Jobs Today - your Monday roundup of all the latest employment news from the industry. If you have...
07 October 2019
From: Breaking News

We know that the tenant fee ban has cost letting agents dearly, with an estimated loss of £300 million paid to...
02 October 2019
From: Features

In recent years, governments and local councils have sought to change the private rented sector (PRS) to make it more appealing...
28 September 2019
From: Features

Hello and welcome to your regular Monday PJT, the essential guide to who’s moving where in our industry. Everyone mentioned here got...
23 September 2019
From: Breaking News

HM Revenue & Customs has revealed that the original Emoov online agency has been fined for breaches of money laundering regulations. HMRC...
20 September 2019
From: Breaking News

Hunters chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who is also a Conservative MP, has given notice that he would resign the party whip if...
10 September 2019
From: Breaking News

Professional client account solutions for modern letting agents Letting agents will need to come up with new ways to manage client money...
05 September 2019
From: Sponsored Content

A PropTech firm is marketing anti-money laundering audit checks for agents to help the industry comply with tighter regulation. Identity verification business...
05 September 2019
From: Breaking News

A well-respected agent who was president of the NAEA just five years ago has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking...
28 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Recently a number of politicians and charities have been calling for the introduction of rent controls or rent freezes in the...
24 August 2019
From: Features

A new digital platform has been set up in a bid to provide a one-stop-shop for self-build enthusiasts - and it...
23 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Phil Smith - mio Account manager What is mio and what does...
19 August 2019
From: 60 Second Interview

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Lino Goncalves – Area Sales Manager What is Lets bid property...
06 August 2019
From: 60 Second Interview

With Boris Johnson winning the Conservative leadership election and becoming Prime Minister, he has spent his first few days in office...
03 August 2019
From: Features

We now have a new Leader of the Conservative Party and, rather more importantly, a new Prime Minister. That individual is Boris...
27 July 2019
From: Features

Trade bodies and property firms have strongly welcomed the recommendations for root and branch reform of the agency industry - and...
19 July 2019
From: Breaking News

The government has published its response to an MPs’ committee’s comments on overseas buyers of properties in the UK - and...
19 July 2019
From: Breaking News

The government has published proposals for far-reaching changes to the way estate and letting agents are regulated, trained and licensed. The proposals...
18 July 2019
From: Breaking News

All new-build homes could soon be fitted with an electric car charging point. The government has issued a consultation on the move,...
17 July 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s now more than three years since the EU referendum result in June 2016, and we’re still no clearer on when...
13 July 2019
From: Features

Estate agents have been urged to ensure they are carrying out an annual independent audit of their anti-money laundering (AML) processes. ID...
09 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Theresa May arrived in Downing Street some three years ago - but her premiership has not been a smooth ride. As she...
06 July 2019
From: Features

With this summer marking forty years since Margaret Thatcher came to power, her legacy continues to invoke both celebration and consternation...
06 July 2019
From: Features

In the second part of my exploration of startups, I talk to a number of people with lived experience of creating...
29 June 2019
From: Features

Increasing legislation and regulation has arguably been the biggest talking point in the private rented sector (PRS) over the last few...
29 June 2019
From: Features

The weekend is over all-too-quickly but at least if it’s Monday, it’s Property Jobs Today - your weekly catch up with...
24 June 2019
From: Breaking News

Recent figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have revealed a rather worrying landscape for small business owners across the...
22 June 2019
From: Features

You may be right in thinking that Brexit has dominated the thinking of the government in the last three years. However,...
22 June 2019
From: Features

When employing a new member of staff there are a lot of checks and balances put in place by any business...
19 June 2019
From: Features

Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy that was implemented in 2012 was designed to make staying and residing in the UK as...
08 June 2019
From: Features

It may well seem that the government is pre-occupied with one issue, and one issue alone. While preparations for Brexit take up a...
01 June 2019
From: Features

Three ultra-high-value London properties cannot be sold while a money laundering investigation continues. The houses have not been identified but were most...
31 May 2019
From: Breaking News

NAEA and ARLA Propertymark have launched an initiative called Propertymark Inspire to promote training and compliance awareness amongst agents. A statement says the...
29 May 2019
From: Breaking News

The head of the Property Redress Scheme is urging agents to prepare for yet more regulation and legislation changes likely to...
28 May 2019
From: Breaking News

What a great time to be a letting agent. In decades, never has there been so much change. As you’re well aware,...
25 May 2019
From: Features

A Parliamentary committee has claimed that 160 properties in the UK are owned by “high corruption-risk individuals” and wants more to...
20 May 2019
From: Breaking News

I hope you had another wonderful Bank Holiday weekend; only three weeks to hold on until the next one. Personally, it...
08 May 2019
From: Breaking News

It’s clear that some agents are not fans of Trading Standards officers, described in the comments sections of the trade press...
27 April 2019
From: Features

The head of the new Trading Standards authority regulating estate agents says Online firms are treated exactly the same as High...
26 April 2019
From: Breaking News

Estate Agent Today has been given details of the new National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team - the body...
23 April 2019
From: Breaking News

The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) keeps deposit money safe for letting agents, landlords and renters during the course a tenancy....
20 April 2019
From: Features

The jury appears to be out on whether the new enforcement body for estate and lettings agents will be resourced sufficiently...
18 April 2019
From: Breaking News

A new team has been set up to police all estate and letting agency legislation including the upcoming tenants' fees ban. The...
17 April 2019
From: Breaking News

Low risk letting is everyone’s aim, but unless legitimate guidelines are followed it’s difficult to know if a tenant will prove...
17 April 2019
From: Features

It has been a long time coming, but the tenant fees ban, which forbids landlords and letting agents in England from...
13 April 2019
From: Features

Winkworth has a new office at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, as an independent local agency rebrands as part of the franchise giant. Previously trading...
12 April 2019
From: Breaking News

One of the industry’s leading compliance experts is to lead a roundtable discussion in May on the anti-money laundering issue -...
25 March 2019
From: Breaking News

The Law Society claims that the unforeseen charges faced by some purchasers of leasehold properties could be addressed “if developers and...
20 March 2019
From: Breaking News

I don’t believe it’s unfair to state that our government, indeed, the entire political establishment is in some turmoil at the...
16 March 2019
From: Features

The topic of introducing rent controls in London crops up time and time again in our industry. But it’s been hitting...
16 March 2019
From: Features

It’s time, surely, for government to crackdown not just on rogue agents and landlords but on rogue councils that confuse the...
09 March 2019
From: Features

Competition for landlords will be fiercer than ever this year. Landlords are facing a raft of changes and will likely be...
06 March 2019
From: Features

The demand for rural properties is high, and with 20.7% of England’s population in countryside areas, estate agents have a large...
02 March 2019
From: Features

Nobody likes change. It makes people feel threatened, undermines their confidence, and makes them worry about the future. But regardless of...
27 February 2019
From: Features

Kit Malthouse has been making headlines this week, but – in keeping with his tenure as Housing Minister so far -...
02 February 2019
From: Features

When it comes to letting a property, it is important that landlords and renters have faith in their agent. The more...
26 January 2019
From: Features

Alongside hundreds of agents and suppliers, I recently attended the Guild of Property Professionals’ annual conference. As ever, it was a great...
26 January 2019
From: Features

The government has this morning set out wide-ranging changes to redress systems for agents, the sales and lettings sectors, and other...
24 January 2019
From: Breaking News

I often speak of my wish to see property taken out of the hands of politicians. Indeed, this is likely to...
19 January 2019
From: Features

Even with 2019 well underway, letting agents need to keep refining their long-term goals and business targets. For agencies with a...
12 January 2019
From: Features

It’s the word on everyone’s lips: after two and a half years of debate, and months before that leading up to...
11 January 2019
From: Breaking News

Recent years have seen tighter regulation and new legislation hit the lettings industry. Combined with the fee ban, there is no...
10 January 2019
From: Sponsored Content

As 2018 ticks away and 2019 beckons, it’s time for everyone at Estate Agent Today to wish you, your family and...
31 December 2018
From: Breaking News

There’s nothing new about identifying 10 figures who have helped shape an industry over the past year, but that doesn’t mean...
28 December 2018
From: Features

Another year is nearly done – and what an eventful year it’s been. We’ve had more than our fair share of breaking...
22 December 2018
From: Features
21 December 2018
From: Sponsored Content

Over the past year I've had so many conversations with agents telling me how they feel that offering a premium customer...
15 December 2018
From: Features

There is a perfect storm brewing in the lettings market, and as the saying goes, “you can’t change the direction of...
12 December 2018
From: Features

The title may be unfamiliar but most agents know by now that in the corridors of Whitehall a working party exists...
24 November 2018
From: Features

People now expect a streamlined, digital-first experience from every single service they interact with - and the lettings industry is no...
14 November 2018
From: Features

1. Who are you and what do you do? HeyJuno Property is a business dedicated to empowering estate and letting agents throughout...
06 November 2018
From: 60 Second Interview

It’s time to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to overseas buyers of property. If you listen to Theresa...
13 October 2018
From: Features

The head of a leading Chinese property portal has taken the unusual step of commenting on a British tax policy -...
05 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Landlords and letting agents might feel they’ve taken a bit of a battering from the government in recent years – and...
22 September 2018
From: Features

Almost all buyers of new build houses who purchased a leasehold regret doing so, and the vast majority say they definitely wouldn't...
07 September 2018
From: Breaking News

Estate agents have been warned that underestimating their legal obligations when it comes to anti-money laundering (AML) could see an increase...
07 September 2018
From: Breaking News

A downbeat report from property investment specialist London Central Portfolio says “there are very few causes for optimism in the domestic...
29 August 2018
From: Breaking News

A maverick Cornish estate agent who falsely gave the impression to customers that his business was highly successful has been hit...
20 August 2018
From: Breaking News

An OnTheMarket sales rep - who now no longer works for the company - wrote a critical review of an independent estate...
14 August 2018
From: Breaking News

When Oakland A’s, a small-market team, stunned the baseball world 16 years ago by transforming itself into world-beaters on a shoestring-budget,...
11 August 2018
From: Features

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 - has now become effective and is...
07 August 2018
From: Breaking News

It’s holiday time: schools have broken up, quite a few estate agents are taking time off, and the MPs are in...
28 July 2018
From: Features

Does your company apply adequate customer due diligence measures when carrying out estate agency work? Does it establish and maintain appropriate policies...
28 July 2018
From: Features

Councils across England will have new powers to charge dramatically more council tax on homes left empty for many years following...
23 July 2018
From: Breaking News

We are currently engaged in consultations with our members to help to find a practical solution to the concern of the...
21 July 2018
From: Features

Amid the headline-grabbing political manoeuvring over Brexit, a policy proposal which could have serious ramifications for private landlords, and those who...
14 July 2018
From: Features

Renting has long been characterised as a stepping stone onto the housing ladder for the younger generations. But in recent years,...
07 July 2018
From: Features

Reapit has announced that its head of sales, the well-respected and popular industry figure Simon Whale, is leaving the company. He is...
06 July 2018
From: Breaking News

Estate Agent Today is 10 years old this weekend. We hope you’ll agree that’s a cause for celebration and a great...
29 June 2018
From: Breaking News

The head of London’s largest estate agency brand has hit back at a council in the capital which wants enhanced powers...
26 June 2018
From: Breaking News
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To say this is a turbulent time for UK politics would be something of an understatement. As I write, the Brexit...
23 June 2018
From: Features

As promised a few weeks ago, this week’s Natter concentrates on the importance of content, design and social media, three easily...
19 May 2018
From: Features

As housing market stakeholders we’ve all had a month or so to try and digest the government’s own response to its...
19 May 2018
From: Features

Mike Day, one of the best known and most popular figures in the agency business, is celebrating 15 years as one...
11 May 2018
From: Breaking News

A leasehold reform campaigner has called on the government to ensure it publishes its report on leasehold reform before the summer recess at...
04 May 2018
From: Breaking News

A leasehold reform campaigning group is warning that “it is likely to be many years” before promised leasehold reform becomes law. Leasehold...
24 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Maplin, Toys R Us, Carpetright, Warren Evans – what do they have in common? All are well-known high street chains that...
21 April 2018
From: Features

‘Respect’ is the new mantra for politicians: whether it’s about street gang leaders, social media trolls or those on either side...
14 April 2018
From: Features

More details have emerged of the government’s proposals to enhance estate agency regulation, regulate referral fees, offer guides for buyers and...
09 April 2018
From: Breaking News

In the modern marketplace – where people live their lives on their smartphones and tablets, social media has a bigger influence...
06 April 2018
From: Sponsored Content

A technology company says that despite government attempts to eradicate money laundering in property transactions, agents and other industry professionals have been left...
06 April 2018
From: Breaking News

At any given moment it’s difficult to say which issue dominates our marketplace, but I think it’s fair to acknowledge during...
31 March 2018
From: Features

Foxtons has reported its 2017 figures to shareholders and the City this morning and as expected they show sharp falls in...
28 February 2018
From: Breaking News

Having built over 1,800 websites for estate and lettings agents in the last 20 years, it will come as no surprise...
21 February 2018
From: Features

This week I carry out a question and answer session with one of the most high-profile names in property. Isobel Thomson has...
10 February 2018
From: Features

The General Data Protection Regulation legislation coming into effect in the UK on May 25 has undergone some subtle changes which...
08 February 2018
From: Breaking News

In recent years January has become the month of detoxes, fad diets, health kicks such as Dry January and Veganuary, and...
27 January 2018
From: Features

After the fun and over-indulgence of the festivities, most of us are now back to the world of work. And, with...
13 January 2018
From: Features

It’s no surprise that figures don’t always show the results or consequences we expect - even if they are entirely accurate. Look...
06 January 2018
From: Features

The Home Office has announced a new division to tackle fraud issues, including money laundering. A new national economic crime centre within...
04 January 2018
From: Breaking News

The Advertising Standards Authority has told the organisers of a house raffle that they must not repeat a promotion because of...
13 December 2017
From: Breaking News

Landlords are being urged to step up and ensure that all rented properties and accommodation meet recent laws relating to carbon...
02 December 2017
From: Features

A new EU crackdown on money laundering requires estate agency businesses to adopt a collaborative approach if they are to avoid...
11 November 2017
From: Features

Labour MP Justin Madders is working on a Private Members' Bill creating leasehold reform in a bid to help leaseholders who, he...
10 November 2017
From: Breaking News

It’s something of an understatement to say it’s been a busy fortnight for the industry in terms of announcements, consultations and...
04 November 2017
From: Features

Crowdfunding is nothing new. As I pointed out in a previous Natter, it dates back centuries, playing a part in the...
28 October 2017
From: Features

Another week, yet more consultations - the agency industry can’t complain about not being asked for its views recently. The latest were on...
21 October 2017
From: Features

The UK estate agency and construction industries are not ready for the huge workload and responsibilities involved in the General Data...
19 October 2017
From: Breaking News

A new online property competition platform has launched that gives entrants the opportunity to win a home for £2 - but...
19 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The UK is home to four million leasehold properties in private ownership, according to government figures. The majority of which require...
30 September 2017
From: Features

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform has made a hard-hitting submission to formal government consultations on the...
25 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Stephanie Slater died last week, aged 50. Whilst she died from cancer (tragically, only 11 days after diagnosis), it’s the events...
06 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Are you protecting your data right? This may sound like the sort of direct warning you get from cold callers or...
19 August 2017
From: Features

The Property Ombudsman has told Estate Agent Today that it is happy with the controversial deferred payment scheme operated on behalf of...
03 August 2017
From: Breaking News

You’ll see a lot of 10th anniversary stories in the property industry and consumer media in the coming days: early August...
28 July 2017
From: Features

The government wants the views of estate agents and other professionals affected by anti-money laundering legislation, in a new consultation launched...
24 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The fledgling trade body CIELA says it is going to institute a kitemark-style service for all estate agents to be able...
21 July 2017
From: Breaking News

Estate and letting agents are being urged to prepare for new data protection legislation coming into effect next year - but...
11 July 2017
From: Breaking News

The political ebb and flow continues - seemingly with all the subtlety of a Boris Johnson rugby tackle on a 10-year...
01 July 2017
From: Features

The controversial raffle of a home reportedly purchased in 2014 under the Right To Buy scheme for just £360,000 is back...
30 June 2017
From: Breaking News

Estate agents complying with new anti-money laundering regulations introduced this week are unlikely to avoid falling foul of terrorists and criminal...
27 June 2017
From: Breaking News

One of the biggest choices you can make in regards to the logistics of your estate agency can be picking a...
12 June 2017
From: Sponsored Content

To give you a nice distraction from the post-election madness, here’s an interview with Charlie Wright, founder of CIELA (or The...
10 June 2017
From: Features

London Central Portfolio, a property investment consultancy, has set out a five point plan for the next government elected this week...
05 June 2017
From: Breaking News

An audit and tax consultancy is urging estate agencies across the UK to prepare for new EU General Data Protection Regulation...
01 June 2017
From: Breaking News

Student accommodation is positively luxurious compared with the drafty digs of my student days. En-suites, studio flats, even cinemas in halls...
27 May 2017
From: Features

An attempt to raffle a property - like the much-publicised case of an owner in south east London, which reached some...
11 May 2017
From: Breaking News

An investigation by the BBC has revealed that councils are spending million buying back homes they sold at a discount under...
04 May 2017
From: Breaking News

I wrote last month about how the Government, in introducing a 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes, had scored an...
22 April 2017
From: Features

In this Natter we have an exclusive interview with David Cox, CEO of ARLA Propertymark and one of the best-known figures...
08 April 2017
From: Features

“I predict that within a few years, folks advertising properties for rent or to buy will start to show if their property is a...
06 April 2017
From: Breaking News

Dust off your black tie and grab a tissue as we’re entering a period of mourning. It’s a bold claim, but...
18 March 2017
From: Features

Some big news in the agency world last week won’t have escaped the attention of many in the industry. Last Thursday news...
14 March 2017
From: Sponsored Content

Fledgling trade body The Charter for Independent Estate and Letting Agents (CIELA) has described Purplebricks as the 'biggest enemy currently facing...
07 March 2017
From: Breaking News

HMRC and the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team have agreed new procedures to “enhance and ease the current flow of...
20 February 2017
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents is rebranding to Propertymark NAEA and the Association of Residential Letting Agents is to be...
10 February 2017
From: Breaking News

First details of the long-awaited Housing White Paper have emerged in stories in newspapers frequently used by government to float ideas. The...
03 February 2017
From: Breaking News

The government appears to have slipped back on two deadlines concerning measures key to the property industry. Firstly the consultation on the...
20 January 2017
From: Breaking News

2016 was quite a year – eventful, dramatic, shocking and impossible to predict. In no particular order, we saw Leicester winning...
18 January 2017
From: Sponsored Content

Forecasts are so last year: who anticipated Bowie, Brexit or Balls for example? Quotes, on the other hand, really ARE last year...
17 December 2016
From: Features

Next year is likely to be a challenging time for letting agents, following a raft of changes introduced by the government...
09 December 2016
From: Features

With effect from the 1st December 2016, amendments to the Immigration act 2014 were made through the Immigration Act 2016. The soundbite...
09 December 2016
From: Features

A firm is warning of “a wave of litigation from home owners who were given inadequate advice from their solicitors or...
29 November 2016
From: Breaking News
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It may still be too early to start compiling a Christmas wish list, but it is the right time to provide...
19 November 2016
From: Features

What does it say on your business card? Rajeev Nayyar, Managing Director of Fixflo We’re here to talk about your new product,...
15 November 2016
From: 60 Second Interview

When a tenant paid his initial one month’s rent in addition to a tenancy deposit in exchange for the keys to...
05 November 2016
From: Features

Online reviews play an increasingly vital role in shaping the decisions of customers. Practically everyone using the internet to compare estate...
22 October 2016
From: Features

Buy-to-let landlords may have failed in their recent legal battle against planned government tax relief changes for buy-to-let homes set to...
14 October 2016
From: Features

Agents don’t need reminding that Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today are invaluable sources of daily industry news - but...
11 October 2016
From: Breaking News

A fantastic exclusive this week as I carry out a question and answer session with one of the leading names in...
16 September 2016
From: Features

The Welsh Government has announced that from April 2018, Stamp Duty Land Tax will be replaced with a Land Transaction Tax. The...
13 September 2016
From: Breaking News

For many people buy-to-let continues to look an attractive income investment at a time of low saving rates and stock market...
26 August 2016
From: Features

It’s a headline from an Australian business journal this week but it has a familiar ring to it: “Estate agents’ attempts...
26 August 2016
From: Features

If you want an indicator that the United Kingdom isn’t so united any more, have a look at Right To Buy. The...
12 August 2016
From: Features

With ever increasing obligations, estate agents know that compliance matters now more than ever. However, being able to obtain access to the...
12 August 2016
From: Features

Wales has confirmed that it is to scrap the former flagship Thatcherite policy of Right To Buy. Since 1980, 138,423 homes have been...
09 August 2016
From: Breaking News

The Society of Licensed Conveyancers has become the latest body to call for the scrapping of stamp duty to give the...
08 August 2016
From: Breaking News

One of the western world’s ‘hottest’ city residential markets has introduced a near-instant 15 per cent price surcharge on properties purchased...
27 July 2016
From: Breaking News

A residential property consultancy has opened one of the first estate agency coffee shops in the UK. Go Holdings, which works with...
19 July 2016
From: Breaking News

With the new Formula One season now well underway, we delve into the fast lane to take you on a whirlwind...
08 July 2016
From: Features

One estate agency leader - you’d all recognise his name - described the victory of the Leave camp in the referendum...
24 June 2016
From: Features

Running a business is not easy, but sometimes it becomes harder because we are expected to modify our behaviour due to...
20 May 2016
From: Features

When a potential buyer comes into the office and says they want to view a property on your books, the natural...
29 April 2016
From: Features

Straightforward money laundering customer due diligence (CDD) is a worry for agents, but then also having to identify beneficial owners and...
23 April 2016
From: Features

There is a substantial amount of misunderstanding over this question, which needs clarifying. In general terms, the Money Laundering Regulations require...
01 April 2016
From: Features

When, during his budget speech, George Osborne announced Capital Gains Tax (CGT) was going down to 20%, I experienced a mix...
25 March 2016
From: Features

George Osborne has been busy over the last year. First came the General Election which had everyone on tenterhooks until the...
25 March 2016
From: Features

The days are getting longer, the sun is starting to appear on a more regular basis, Easter is just around the...
18 March 2016
From: Features

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is claiming that the government’s flagship Starter Homes project could allow properties to be bought by...
29 February 2016
From: Breaking News

A letter from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury appears to suggest that the government is set on implementing the three...
12 February 2016
From: Breaking News

In a surprise move, The Property Ombudsman is to allow all 420 registered firms in the British Association of Removers to...
03 February 2016
From: Breaking News

Only months after the collapse of the Veyo system aimed at creating a conveyancing portal for England and Wales, the Law...
29 January 2016
From: Breaking News

In January readers of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today were given the opportunity to give their views on proposed...
25 January 2016
From: Features

With a little over two months to go until changes to Stamp Duty are introduced that will impact purchasers of second...
22 January 2016
From: Features

There’s bad news today for Labour members living in homes valued at £1m or more - one of their own MPs...
15 January 2016
From: Breaking News

Who are you? I’m the Head of Redress at the Property Redress Scheme. I previously worked for Legal & General PLC dealing...
23 December 2015
From: 60 Second Interview

There are a number of fairly recent regulations that agents need to comply with. One of them, now just over a year...
18 December 2015
From: Features

What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the agency industry during your time at TPO? For me, the biggest change has...
18 December 2015
From: 60 Second Interview

It was an end of an era in the property world this week. Christopher Hamer stepped down as the Property Ombudsman...
04 December 2015
From: Features

Negativity. There’s a lot of it about in the lettings industry right now. Where you might see barriers, hurdles and more...
20 November 2015
From: Features

Someone told me the other day that it’s now only seven Mondays till Christmas. Now there’s a scary thought. Best get...
06 November 2015
From: Features

With a raft of new legislation introduced recently now will be the ideal time to think about whether staff are up...
06 November 2015
From: Features

Headlines across the lettings industry often focus on the behaviour of ‘rogue’ landlords – those that are slow to become compliant...
30 October 2015
From: Features

Who are you? Ellie Hall. What does it say on your business card? Head of Acquisitions. You're on the hunt for acquisitions, what makes a...
26 October 2015
From: 60 Second Interview

The National Association of Estate Agents admits that “take up has been low” in its bid to persuade each member agent to...
26 October 2015
From: Breaking News

The consumer is King and to protect sellers and buyers' best interests estate and letting agents have to operate in the...
09 October 2015
From: Features

Agents' Giving: No less than £20,000 has been raised at the Agents Giving Ball where Phil Spencer and 240 of the...
09 October 2015
From: Breaking News

The largest of the three government-approved redress schemes, The Property Ombudsman, has updated its codes of practice to include new legislation...
02 October 2015
From: Breaking News

It’s been nearly a year since all lettings and property management agents have been legally required to join a redress scheme...
25 September 2015
From: Features

Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on Alex Chesterman's...
18 September 2015
From: Video Articles

Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on Alex Chesterman's...
18 September 2015
From: Breaking News

A High Street estate agent has branded the latest guidance to the industry on Consumer Protection Regulations as “a complete mess”...
14 September 2015
From: Breaking News

Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on the fortunes...
11 September 2015
From: Video Articles

Watch the latest weekly video round-up of news from Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today, featuring stories on the fortunes...
11 September 2015
From: Breaking News

Stories of migrants attempting to make their way to the UK are now a daily feature in our news bulletins and...
28 August 2015
From: Features

A new website has been launched to fight back against the attack George Osborne made in the Summer Budget on the...
21 August 2015
From: Features

Estate Agent Today understands that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors wants to become a supervisory body under new laws attempting...
18 August 2015
From: Breaking News

People buying or selling property in Scotland would be better protected if the regulation of estate agency was devolved to the...
07 July 2015
From: Breaking News

The internet and rapidly evolving digital landscape has revolutionised the way people buy and sell properties. With some reports suggesting 95 per...
03 July 2015
From: Features

After the passing of the Deregulation Act deposits deadline this week, Richard Price, Executive Director of UKALA, is in a contemplative...
26 June 2015
From: Features

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has announced that its first ever conference will take place in October. ‘Raise Your Standards’ is being...
05 June 2015
From: Breaking News

Earlier this week we passed the official deadline for letting agents to fully publicise their fees as well as providing evidence of...
29 May 2015
From: Features

The new government has announced its legislative plans for housing in the coming year. In the first all-Conservative Queen’s Speech since 1996,...
28 May 2015
From: Breaking News

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...
22 May 2015
From: Features

In 2007, the government introduced a compulsory deposit protection scheme as part of the Housing Act 2004 to help protect tenants...