Archive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Like most parts of the UK, the one I live in has a bit of a beef about parking. More precisely,...

It’s not a sentence that I thought I would be writing, but Housing Secretary Michael Gove has indeed finally done something...

New laws are set to give more estate agents the chance to sell charity land – as long as you are...

Licensing of estate agents may raise the barrier to entry but it won’t stop those with poor morals, Fine & Country’s...

Fortune favours the brave, as the saying goes. So, when you consider how upfront material information can and does make the...

Rightmove has revealed details of a series of webinars throughout July for agents that are focused on legislation and compliance. A number...

Anti-money laundering (AML) specialist FCS Compliance has unveiled the latest in its series of collaborative webinars with Rightmove. The next session on...

Russell Quirk may have already irked plenty of estate agents in his time as boss of collapsed online brand Emoov and...

The past seven days have seen a string of stories across the media relating to the property sector.  Reports have revealed how...

Zoopla has scheduled its latest quarterly market update for agents. Taking place on Wednesday 14 June, it will address how agents can...

A new survey suggests the overwhelming majority of the public are critical of the government’s apparent housing failures. A study of 1,323...

Following publication of the Renter’s Reform Bill and the media coverage surrounding it, many agents and their landlords will understandably have...

The team behind the Best Estate Agent Guide is set to host an inaugural series of roadshows. The EA Masters team is...

Not every story about our industry makes me smile but I was delighted to read in the trade press about someone...

Rightmove’s Level 3 Certificate for Estate and Lettings Agents (CELA) has been officially recognised by trade body Propertymark, alongside Propertymark Qualifications. The...

Upfront material information is now firmly on the property industry’s radar, with Trading Standards CPR regulations expected to move towards disclosing...

The Conveyancing Association has launched a guidance document for firms that addresses the Building Safety Act and Building Safety (Leaseholder Protection)...

Landlords are exiting the market in droves. According to an accountancy firm who analysed HMRC data, 70,000 buy-to-let landlords left the sector...

A senior peer has vowed to do more to ensure that leaseholders excluded from new building safety regulations get the support...

Mandatory regulations and qualifications could lead to higher fees for UK agents, a former industry executive claims. Former Fine & Country global...

Recent research estimated that up to £100 billion is being stolen in the UK each year, with much of it due...

Landlords are now quite accustomed to the challenges of operating in a market where they are often perceived as the antagonist...

Homebuyers should be warned about climate-related risks of a purchase, new Law Society guidance suggests. The legal membership body has issued guidance...

The majority of estate agents are in the dark about the Government’s Economic Crime Levy (ECL), when it was implemented or...

As the unending attack on landlords continues, many are succumbing to the pressures of increased taxes, interest rates rising, regulations becoming...

This article is partially based on “Plugging in to the Future”, NHBC Foundation, NF90, used by kind permission. As part of the...

Agents and consumers have given their backing to minimum industry standards but there are differences when it comes to the level...

The long-awaited Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules will still be introduced but most probably in a different form, it has...

Lawyers are warning of a growing number of incidents of septic tank conveyancing negligence, which could prove costly for homebuyers. House buyers...

Trade and representative bodies representing the legal, surveying, estate agency and property management sectors have launched the fourth iteration of the...

As an estate agent, you know that securing the sale is just step one of a successful journey. But with issues...

According to the recent industry research report ‘Back to the Future’ from tmgroup, mio and CDS 40% of property transaction delays...

In November, research conducted by The Housing Forum's Futures Network unearthed concern with the potential to meet the requirements set out...

With no ease up on the cost of living crisis, understandably many agents’ primary concern is whether or not their tenants...

You don’t need me to tell you that buy to let has had a torrid time of it lately. For agents trying...

Listings are down, mortgage rates are high, regulations are becoming even more complex and already stretched tenants are feeling the effects...

Analysis by professional cash buyer and portfolio landlord, Landlord Buyer (part of Open Property Group), has revealed what costs make up...

From the 23 January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into effect for multi-occupied residential buildings. This is what...

We’re only in February and it’s already clear that this year will set the future direction of the private rented sector...

Two of the biggest challenges facing the property industry right now are fraud and money laundering. The scale of these activities is...

AML experts SmartSearch warn estate agents that, with so many firms still hiding behind ‘opaque corporate structures,’ proper due diligence has...

Lucy Frazer became the 13th Housing Minister to leave the role in the past decade yesterday after she was promoted to...

Industry analyst and and chair of The Home Buying and Selling Group Kate Faulkner, has called for the Government to stop agents being...

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has committed to leasehold reform and fixing cladding issues before the next election. It comes as the Government...