Charity
From marathons to bike rides – agent celebrates raising £20,000 for Carers Worldwide charity
Agency staff get active to support carers in year of fundraising
News
Finance
Nationwide gets into bed with digital lettings agency Bunk – backing ‘will help DIY landlords’, says lender
New digital lettings business attracts financial backing from one of UK's biggest buy-to-let lenders
Finance
OnTheMarket expected to go into profit in 2021 – but must grow at astonishing rate between now and then
OnTheMarket must grow at 91% for each of next two years to hit profits expectations
Compliance
Council’s warning to letting agents over fees ban leads to over £34,000 refunds to tenants
Local authority warns agents that they must comply with fees ban
Compliance
Two agents expelled from ombudsman scheme after failing to pay redress
Both firms reported to Trading Standards but appear to be no longer operating
Law
Landlord becomes first in England to be banned after HMO conviction
Landlord will not be able to operate until 2024 after council applies for banning order
People
Much loved estate agent honoured by special window display in his memory
Staff organise special window after branch manager's tragic death at 52
Finance
Equity release is ‘time-bomb’ for middle-aged people, warning
As equity release becomes increasingly popular alternative to moving, warning that debt could double every ten to 15 years
Other News
Annual house price growth crawls to a seven-year low – Land Registry
Average house prices still rising but rate of growth halves in just one month
Agency
New ‘lock-in lite’ agreements to go on offer free to estate agents for next three months
Estate agents design tool aimed at giving buyers and sellers more trust – and could be a USP for firms
Finance
Who is Help to Buy helping? MPs query ‘uncertain value’ of Government’s flagship housing scheme
Parliamentary report finds ‘large proportion’ of buyers could have purchased without state support
Compliance
Landlord hit with £500,000 bill by court after illegally converting property into tiny flats
Largest penalty on a landlord ever imposed by council
Agency
Agents promised ‘revenue boost’ from tie-up between website provider and conveyancing platform
Agents can access upfront referral fees through white-labelled conveyancing service
Other News
End-of-tenancy cleaning service introduces body cameras for all its staff
Caught on camera: It's a clean cop
Politics
Members back merger of UK’s two largest landlord organisations
Landlords vote in favour of New Year merger
Lettings
Former letting agent who led the transformation of London’s Olympic village steps down
Build to Rent pioneer Neil Young steps down to pursue new ventures
Finance
Home mover mortgage approvals hit nine-month high
Increasing mortgage approvals continue to contradict HMRC data that shows sales are falling
Compliance
Mis-measured and over-valued properties ‘could be next PPI scandal’, claim
'Mis-measurement of properties is 'rife' – and almost half of buyers would want compensation'
Law
Ex-agency employee’s award for racial and gender harassment cut by tribunal – but she still gets over £80,000
Woman left with psychiatric injuries after harassment has almost £20,000 shaved off awards – but employer must still pay her over £80,000
Politics
New housing minister defends Right to Buy but says escalating house prices ‘cannot be right’
We have to tackle the Great British house building problem, says McVey