Compliance
BBC presenter accuses deposit scheme of denying ‘natural justice’ to tenants
Tenancy deposit scheme boss defends allegations of unfairness
News
Compliance
Deposit scheme TDS appoints industry-first complaints reviewer
New role will review adjudication decisions or other aspects of customer service
Law
Clarification still demanded as to when agents can serve prescribed information to tenants
Lack of clarity as fall-out over tenancy legal case continues
Agency
Agent protests about alleged practice where negotiators subside their own minimum wages
Estate agent in damning criticism of practice where 'those who miss sales targets have to subsidise their own minimum wages'
Agency
Agency network claims demand from franchisees is at record high
Franchise brand favouring finding 'right people over rapid growth'
Acquisitions
Hunters adds portfolio of 279 lettings to its franchise network
Agent seals first deal of 2019 and promises continued expansion in lettings
Other News
EYE NEWSFLASH: Major fire wrecks Tenancy Deposit Scheme head office
TDS staff are safe and the scheme insists client files won't be affected - but emails and phone lines could be down for days
Agency
Online agency firm loses £9m with liabilities of almost £23m after easyProperty deal
'easyProperty' firm's boss says business now cash-generative
Lettings
All private renters should have permanent tenancies as legal norm, says Shelter
Shelter calls for massive council house building programme among 23 reforms to shake up private and social renting
Agency
Profits drop at big regional agency – but it keeps up its payments for staff
Profits drop by over £1m at estate agency as transactions drop – but it keeps paying its staff same amount
Law
Advice line inundated as Government declines to clarify court ruling on repossession
Furious landlords accuse Government of 'We're not bothered' attitude following court ruling
People
Purplebricks welcomes new global executive with golden hello worth £1.1m in share options
New global chief operating officer granted 700,000 share options
Acquisitions
Axel Springer and Purplebricks lead global ‘one horse race’ with insurmountable lead
Portal owner in 'delicate balancing act' as it prioritises investment in Purplebricks at risk of upsetting its agent customers
Finance
House prices still on the up – Halifax forecasts growth of up to 4% this year
Halifax predicts average prices to rise by 2-4% during course of this year – although warns on Brexit outcome
Agency
Losses rise to £13.5m at online estate agency backed by business tycoon Sir Charles Dunstone
Online agent Housesimple, losing over £1m a month, says it has resources to keep trading for 'foreseeable future'
People
Director at parent company of Guild, Fine & Country and easyProperty quits after a year
Leading industry figure joins recruitment business
Lettings
Britain’s best-known landlord ‘set to put portfolio of properties up for sale today’
Fergus Wilson says he is giving notice to 'ideal tenant with young baby' as rumours mount of entire sell-off
Compliance
Gambling Commission shuts down property raffle as question was ‘too easy’
Home owners must now refund 5,000 competition entrants
Acquisitions
Auction rooms defy Brexit gloom with record sales and a new launch
Property consultancy enters the auctions market
Agency
Agency software provider partners with proptech firm to offer rent recognition tools
Rent recognition provider highlights software partnerships as key to growth