HomeOwners Alliance challenged to display its own referral fees on website (PIE)
The HomeOwners Alliance has been embroiled in a public dispute on Twitter after the Government announced that estate agents must in future disclose referral fees.
Conveyancing: dual representation off the table (LSG)
Buyers and sellers will not be encouraged to use the same conveyancer as part of the government’s plans to fix what it considers to be a ‘broken housing market.
Government targets referral fee transparency and conveyancers publishing performance data (LF)
Estate agents will need to be more transparent over referral fees they receive from lawyers, while conveyancers will have to publish performance data, the government has decreed.
Government to professionalise the estate agent market
New measures will be introduced to professionalise the estate agent market, driving up standards and bringing an end to ‘rogue managing agents’.
Government accused of lack of clarity over anti-money laundering rules (EAT)
A technology company is accusing the government of leaving agents and other property professionals with “a lack of clarity” about exactly what new anti-money laundering requirements mean.
FCA warn of cloned property investment firm (TC)
Legitimate firm, Castlebrook Properties Ltd. has been copied by fraudsters, who have set up a copycat firm under the same name.
First-ever mortgage with digital signature is lodged at Land Registry (EAT)
The first-ever ‘digital mortgage’ deed has been lodged at HM Land Registry, for a property at Rotherhithe in London.
Blockchain conveyancer uses AI to put online auctions “beyond manipulation” (LF)
An online property sales platform that uses the blockchain to record property transactions has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) technology in its auction process, in the hope of boosting trust by […]
Legal Ombudsman costs jump £1.8m ahead of 20% case increase (LSG)
The Legal Ombudsman’s office says that its spending this year will rise sharply after it admitted underestimating its likely workload.
Government admits falling behind on Right to Buy replacement pledges (PIE)
The Government has admitted falling short on its commitment to replace council housing units sold under the Right to Buy scheme.
Estate agents fined average of £12k for AML non-compliance (TC)
Recent research has revealed that 11,842 is the average agency fine for supposed anti-money laundering non-compliance.
Indemnity insurance reforms “will damage small firms” (LF)
Indemnity insurance reforms put forward by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) last month will damage the small firms the regulator is trying to help, a specialist law firm has warned.