Law
Landlords pay the price after losing licensing scheme challenge
Council goes ahead with plans to charge £605 per licence after court ruling
News
Agency
High street firms ‘investigated’ by CMA over long sole agency agreements
Complaint to CMA says long agreements are unfair and likely to breach law
Agency
Zoopla keeps up battering of OnTheMarket with new attack
Within hours of confirming 23% loss of member agents, Zoopla claims OTM agents are losing market share
Compliance
Clock ticks down towards duty to publish letting fees
Agents have six days left to ensure they comply with new legislation
Compliance
Developer in hot water after advertising the homes that weren’t
Homes were advertised as 'now available' even though planning permission had not been granted
Other News
Pollsters are almost as mistrusted as agents – says, er, new poll
Estate agents, journalists and politicians have new contender in least trusted stakes
Agency
Zoopla confirms loss of almost one quarter of agency membership
UK agency membership down 23% by end of March with further 106 losses in April
Acquisitions
Connells firm Sequence snaps up major city business
Farrell Heyworth sells its Liverpool business for undisclosed sum
Finance
More tenants in rent arrears as they struggle on low pay
Number of tenants in serious arrears creeps up while eviction orders rise
Agency
Online v traditional – but are investors being given the facts?
Article in investment magazine says agents charge up to 3% to sell £272,000 home
Agency
Election bounce adds 34% more listings in one weekend
Haart reports flurry of activity within the first weekend
Finance
Slow start to year for home movers and FTBs
Buy-to-let lending stays strong as house purchase loans for owner occupiers fall away
Finance
Cabec Ltd t/a Cream Club: Creditors meeting could be held within weeks
Administrators confirm that Cabec's business and assets have been sold to The Cream Club Ltd
Agency
Watchdog launches probe into way online agents advertise their fees
Advertising Standards Authority to investigate complaint that some online agents are not including VAT
Agency
Agent ‘gets 300% more inquiries’ after being one of few locally to stay on Zoopla
Agent also asks whether Zoopla could take bold move to become direct selling agent
Agency
Agent calls up 24/7 competitor to ask for a valuation at 3am
Agent hits back criticising the lengths competitors will go to
Law
Petition wants Land Registry to let owners keep property prices private
Petition also attacks 'inaccurate' online valuation tools