Lettings
Half a million rental properties may disappear from rental market as landlords shift to short-term lets – warning
Government urged to level the playing field for short and long term lettings
News
Lettings
Rents shoot up in London at almost twice the rate of everywhere else, says Rightmove
Asking price rents rise to a new record in London, says Rightmove
Agency
EYE NEWSFLASH: Restructure at Purplebricks as layer of management is removed
Seven regional directors at Purplebricks now in talks about their futures
Compliance
Fraudsters target tenants’ deposits as they use agent’s bogus email account
Letting agents and customers should be on their guard after scammers steal tenants' deposits
Acquisitions
Chestertons goes on the hunt as it announces ‘aggressive acquisition strategy’
Chestertons reveals record year for performance and announces plans for growth by acquisition
Compliance
Ombudsman says that direct debit email to agents is real, and not a scam
Agent convinced that 'press button to authorise payment' email from TPO was scam
Agency
Two firms removed from Best Agent Guide after financial misconduct by directors
Unnamed firms are dropped from Best Agent Guide
Law
Deposit dispute: Agent’s ‘vague’ check-in report lacked enough evidence to help landlord
Make sure you submit all the evidence you want the adjudicator to consider
Politics
Land Registry records 5% drop in residential registrations for 2019
Data suggests political uncertainty of 2019 created quieter year for sales
Other News
EYE twitter account listed as one of ten property influencers on social media
Ten property influencers who use social media are recommended
Compliance
Industry regulator says that scrapping referral fees would have more impact than tenant fees ban
Industry regulator set to deliver report on how agents are voluntarily complying with guidance on revealing referral fees
Law
Regulation of agents is ‘at least two years away’ says architect of reforms
No timeline yet for changes which will shake up sales and lettings industry
Finance
Shares soar in two property firms that acknowledge getting through a difficult year
Shares shoot up in LSL and The Property Franchise Group as both suggest optimism at start of a new year
Lettings
Agent says huge rise in landlords banning pets has led to animals being put down
Government should amend deposit cap if it is serious about wanting tenants to be allowed pets, says agent
Politics
Return of HIPs ruled out as agents invited to pilot buyer and seller property information packs
Trial unveiled to assess if digitised form will speed up transactions
Law
Judge orders landlords to pay almost £15,000 for letting out home where teenager died in fire
House which was scene of tragic blaze which claimed child's life had no licence to be let
Politics
Personal opinion: Why scrapping entrepreneurs’ relief would be such a bad idea
At the moment business founders pay just 10% tax when they sell up – but this valuable tax break is now under review
Lettings
Fees ban aftermath – tenants continue to pay the price
Rents remain high and tenants find it hard to negotiate reductions
Other News
Demand from potential home buyers soars across UK, says Zoopla
Potential buyer interest up 26% year on year, reports Zoopla, as lights go back on in housing market
People
EYE NEWSFLASH: New managing director is appointed at Purplebricks
National sales director to step down after six years at Purplebricks while operations director becomes new managing director