Compliance
Agents in ‘illegal cartel’ face heavy fines after price-fixing commission fees
Four agents in new cartel case agreed to fix their commissions at 1.5% and must now pay fines of over £370,000 between them
News
Acquisitions
Expert Agent founder says sale to ZPG ‘came as a complete surprise’ to him
Chief executive Mike Griffiths promises customers that it is 'business as usual'
Agency
Reapit says it is ‘categorically’ not in talks with ZPG over any deal
Simon Whale says desktop ownership 'should not be an issue' and tells agents 'your data is your business'
Law
Letting agents face six months in prison or £50,000 fines if they don’t sign up to mandatory register
Mandatory new licensing system for Scottish letting agents will impose criminal sanctions – could England follow?
Agency
Agent Provocateur: Agents DO care about safety on viewings but probate guidelines would be welcome
Thankfully a very rare accident – but one from which lessons can be learnt
Compliance
Ministers urged to make decision as to whether Client Money Protection should be mandatory
Baroness Hayter is pushing government as to whether it will make CMP insurance mandatory
Lettings
Rent rises on new agreements fall below rate of inflation, claim
London still has highest average rents on new tenancies, while the lowest are in East Midlands
Finance
Lender calls for Stamp Duty to be reformed into a seller’s tax
Is Stamp Duty really stopping first-time buyers?
Agency
Lenders ‘wrecking one in five transactions because of down-valuations’ after deals agreed
Are estate agents over-valuing, or lenders' surveyors under-valuing? Your views, please!
Agency
Why over-valuing is a false economy: Spicerhaart boss says agents must deliver honest valuations
Why do it? One in five properties will eventually have to come down in price
Agency
Ex-Countrywide man takes top job at Guild and pledges to stand up for independents
Former Countrywide 'retail director' takes top job at Guild as Marcus Whewell is promoted within parent company
Law
Agent described as ‘brazenly dishonest’ as five-week trial begins
Prosecution tells court that agent accused of fraud held on to holding deposits
Agency
New trade body CIELA tells Purplebricks to withdraw ‘misleading’ TV adverts
Purplebricks asked to remove TV adverts and stop comparing its services with high street agents
Agency
Connells reports rise in profits of over 17%
Number of homes sold up as Connells profits rise to £73.4m
Finance
House prices continue to rise, but cash buyers are becoming key drivers – Nationwide
Annual house price inflation for February 2017 hits 4.5%
Lettings
Residential Landlords Association says it now has 30,000 members
RLA membership climbs 10,000 in last 18 months
Acquisitions
NEWSFLASH: Zoopla acquires Expert Agent
Expert Agent to join Property Services division of ZPG
Agency
Purplebricks shares rocket to over 300p – racing up 10% in just 30 minutes
Can any other online agent now catch up with Purplebricks, asks investment website
Agency
Agent that claimed to have more For Sale and Sold boards than other local firms is vindicated
But two other complaints made by rival are upheld by Advertising Standards Authority
Agency
Trading Standards complaint about agent’s claim informally resolved
Agent who claimed to have sold six homes in one week says further claims will show Rightmove as the source