How Bridging the Digital Safety Gap can Reduce Conveyancing Fraud (IC)
Recent research on online fraud and scams from Barclays highlights that the digital safety gap is still too wide for comfort for both businesses and Barclays individuals.
Property ads may soon contain air quality information, says NAEA chief (EAT)
Estate agents’ listings may soon include compulsory information on a location’s air quality, the chief executive of NAEA Propertymark, Mark Hayward, has said.
Victory for agent in ‘outrageous’ money laundering case as HMRC is now told to pay costs (PIE)
An agent which successfully appealed after being hit with the highest-ever fine for alleged breaches of anti-money laundering, has won its fight to have its costs paid by HMRC.
Agent calls for first-time buyer Stamp Duty holiday and other incentives to get market going (PIE)
Estate agent haart is calling for a Stamp Duty holiday for first-time buyers, incentives for older families to move up the ladder and for the elderly to downsize as part […]
“Sloppy is an understatement” – solicitor sanctioned over dubious transaction (LF)
A solicitor who “failed to distinguish between the personal and professional” when doing business with a family he knew, meaning that he overlooked signs of possible money laundering, has been […]
Help! My house has been hijacked
So-called “property hijacking” — where fraudsters pose as legitimate owners of a property and sell it on without the real owner’s knowledge — is a growth industry for criminals in […]
Estate Agents: The Front Line In The War On Terror and Crime?
This June sees the introduction of the 4th Money Laundering Directive, with estate agents singled out for increasingly stringent money laundering and terrorist financing vetting.
‘Raffle Property’ stunts risk contravening gambling legislation (EAT)
An attempt to raffle a property – like the much-publicised case of an owner in south east London, which reached some national newspapers yesterday – could unwittingly fall foul of […]
BBC revisit shocking property fraud case to highlight continued risks (TC)
National news coverage continues, as consumers still at great risk of fraud – even if they aren’t involved in a property transaction.
Agents don’t get caught out: Important update on Money Laundering registrations and renewals (PIE)
Estate agents must have registered their business with HMRC to meet their obligations under Money Laundering Regulations.
Bird & Bird loses negligence appeal over £26m property (LSG)
A London-headquartered international firm has lost its bid to set aside a ruling that it had acted negligently in relation to the purchase of a £26m property in the capital.
Sale Agreed, Under Offer, and Sold Subject to Contract – there’s no difference (PIE)
The Property Ombudsman has said that in her view, there is no difference between ‘Sale Agreed’, ‘Under Offer’, and ‘Sold Subject to Contract’.