Acquisitions
Former NAEA President Chris Brown sells business to independent chain
Ex-NAEA President sells agency to larger competititor
News
Agency
Agent cycles 2,500 miles to raise money for charity (and burn off his Christmas dinner)
Money raised will help fund grants to homeless charities from the Fine & Country Foundation
Law
Renters to spend almost £154m on agency fees before ban comes in – claim
National newspaper names most expensive of the big agents for tenant charges
Agency
Why they matter: reviews of online agents from customers who pay upfront but have yet to experience the service
BEN MARLEY of Feefo says that the views of every customer, no matter what stage they are in their journey, are important
Agency
Estate agent that built a school library launches new book club in inspirational community move
Primary school library challenge leads agent to turn over a new leaf in reaching out to community
Law
Leaseholders set for new powers under proposed ‘user-friendly’ Right to Manage reforms
Law Commission says current Right to Manage process isn't working
Finance
Mortgage approvals increase as buyers ‘rush to beat Brexit’
Gross mortgage lending and house purchase approvals increased at the end of 2018
Agency
That’s rich: sales of £15m-plus properties surge as super-wealthy pick up ‘bargains’
London remains attractive to growing number of international high net worth individuals
Lettings
Boost for tenants as rents slow annually for the first time in a decade
New data shows rent rises in just two UK regions
Agency
Losses mount at online agent Yopa as it reports going over £32m into the red
Online agent backed by LSL, Savills and Daily Mail reports huge losses in latest accounts
Agency
Opinion: How much longer will investors in online agents wait for the gold rush?
As yet another online agent reports huge losses, PAUL SMITH wonders how long investors will hold out
Agency
Consumers to find it ‘easier to complain’ about agents as new reforms are unveiled
Current redress schemes look safe but must help establish new 'one gateway' service
Agency
The race to the bottom hasn’t worked, so how about a race to the top?
The Paul Smith column: Is it time for agents to concentrate on offering a premium service and charge accordingly?
People
Agent appoints mental health champions to look out for their colleagues in the workplace
Agency staff undergo mental health training to help colleagues who are struggling
People
Lettings proptech firm starts recruiting again a year after staff cuts
Goodlord names former Rightmove executive as its new director of sales
Law
EYE NEWSFLASH: Connells brand Gascoigne Halman loses appeal against OnTheMarket
OnTheMarket welcome unanimous decision by Court of Appeal – while Connells boss expresses surprise and disappointment
Law
Agents who break fees ban could be bankrupted by huge fines, ARLA boss warns
Agents also warned they could be sailing close to the wind if they refer tenants to firms that pay commission
Lettings
Mayor set to introduce rent controls across whole of London – with precedent likely to be set for elsewhere
Mayor Sadiq Khan accused of political 'grandstanding' as he calls for rent controls to tackle affordability crisis
Law
Buyers should ‘not be able to walk away from deals’ with impunity because they don’t like the avocado bath
Housing minister says reservation agreements should increase commitment by putting 'some skin in the game'
Other News
Right up my street: one in three house hunters already know just where they want to live
Zoopla claims that a third of buyers have a set street or house in mind when searching for a property