Lawyer reveals ‘shocking’ cases where agents steal from clients (PIE)
A lawyer has revealed that her firm has regularly handled cases in recent years where letting agents have stolen client money and then dissolved the company to avoid liability, only […]
Purplebricks says sellers using online agents saved £140m last year by not going with high street firms (PIE)
Sellers who used an online or hybrid estate agent last year saved themselves £140m by opting not to pay high street fees.
Government sees conveyancing as part of the housing problem (LSG)
The government has made a series of bold statements about reforming the ‘broken housing market’. It sees the conveyancing process as a big part of that problem.
Taxman knocks on firms’ doors amid VAT costs confusion (LSG)
Tax authorities have started to contact law firms directly regarding their VAT treatment of electronic searches, it has been confirmed.
Capital Gains change could create “compliance nightmare” warns tax expert (EAT)
A proposal by HMRC to speed up HMRC Capital Gains Tax payments for residential property sales could create a “compliance nightmare.”
UK lenders expect rebound in demand for mortgage lending in coming months – BoE (IC)
British lenders expect to see demand for mortgage lending rebound over the next few months after a sharp drop in the first quarter of 2018, a Bank of England survey […]
Consultation launched on residential building safety in the UK (IC)
The British Government has launched a consultation on proposals to toughen rules on residential building safety, particularly strengthening fire testing for cladding.
More backing for buying reforms from conveyancers and agents (EAT)
The Conveyancing Association has backed the government’s calls for extensive reform of the buying and selling process, announced at the weekend.
Will requiring estate agents to be professionally qualified improve the market? No, says think tank (PIE)
It is no surprise that plans requiring estate agents to hold professional qualifications in future have gone down well with the National Association of Estate Agents.
Agents report deepening housing market gloom as buyer enquiries fall for 12th consecutive month (PIE)
Buyer demand has now fallen continuously for a full year, estate agents who are members of RICS have reported.
Purplebricks tells Government to go further in reforms and compel high street agents to publish fees (PIE)
Purplebricks has called on the Government to go further in its proposals to clamp down on the industry by requiring agents to publish their commission rates.
Home sellers should be forced to provide upfront information, says trade body (LSG)
A trade body for conveyancers says it would liked to have seen the government require sellers to provide vital information prior to their property being viewed in order to improve […]