Acquisitions
Merger between two biggest landlord bodies running weeks behind schedule
NLA and RLA due to merge in January but weeks later are 'still working on due diligence'
News
Agency
Agent claims it is converting over half of incoming live chats into leads
Agent handles its own live chats in-house and says it is converting 54% into leads
Agency
EYE exclusive: Purplebricks boss adamant that company will achieve its 10% market share ambition
Purplebricks boss says upfront fees are 'unlikely to change' and that animosity from other agents is understandable
Law
Agents accused of ‘aggressive’ selling of deposit-free options to make up income lost from ban
Tenant claims BBC agent did not tell him that deposit-free payments are non-refundable
Law
Former agent who failed to protect tenants’ deposits signs legal undertaking
Letting agent who stopped trading owed landlords and tenants around £90,000, says council
Agency
Agents asked for feedback on compliance over referral fees – but survey comes under fire
Survey asks respondents who say they do not disclose fees how they disclose them
Agency
The Property Franchise Group reveals ‘golden fleece’ project for its hybrid offering
Top agency figure to work on new project while shares in TPFG soar to all-time high – while Foxtons and Belvoir also find favour
Acquisitions
Countrywide hit by delay in sale of commercial agency arm Lambert Smith Hampton
Countrywide reports that £38m sale which should have gone through at end of last year has still not happened
Other News
Storm Ciara: How did you and your business fare yesterday in the wind and floods?
Storm Ciara tears into the whole country – have you been affected?
Finance
House prices up 4% in a year, claims country’s largest mortgage lender
Demand set to continue to exceed supply this year, says Halifax
Politics
No mention of agency involvement as Government unveils First Homes scheme
Consultation on latest housing initiative for first-time buyers
Agency
EYE NEWSFLASH: Purplebricks boss says changes are about extra investment not cost-cutting
EYE EXCLUSIVE: Purplebricks boss reveals an extra £6m investment this year in people and technology
Agency
Demonstrators go into agency to play a game of Monopoly as part of protest
Renters' Union thought it 'funny to play game about properties' – but agent says they acted like playground bullies
Agency
Online agency easyProperty announces plans to triple numbers of local agents
easyProperty outlines ambitious plans to expand local agent network as it ramps up recruitment
Compliance
Agents are quietly given extra year to comply with mandatory client money protection rules
Government quietly amends compliance deadline to April 2021
Acquisitions
Business as usual for Relocation Agent Network as sale of its US owner goes through
Sale of relocation business to new global owner 'will not affect RAN in the UK'
Agency
Zoopla unveils former Knight Frank partner as new head of research
Zoopla recruits former Knight Frank partner to new research role
Charity
Property industry’s own summer festival gets ready to rock and roll again
Can Catfest break another fund-raising record for vital cancer charity?
Agency
The Apprentice: You’re hired, two big agents tell learners
Apprentices in their hundreds across two larger agent networks
People
Housing lawyer David Smith quits Anthony Gold Solicitors for new role
Property law specialist will leave at the end of March