Propertymark is calling in the government for agents to be trained in the use of software operating the Unique Property Reference Numbers system – similar to car licence plates. UPRN allows each address in the country to have a unique identifying number and can have ‘attached’ to that number the sort of activities and characteristics which agents need to know …
A law firm has spoken out about two possible problems in the government’s much-publicised idea of considering Reservation Agreements as a weak of reducing fall-throughs in the house buying process. Trials are set to start in the first quarter of 2020 in two areas using different versions of reservation agreements – one option is for the buyer and seller both …
Estate agents, developers and tech chiefs hail Conservative landslide as good news for housing, although many demand action on Stamp Duty. The resounding Conservative victory over Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the General Election has been warmly welcomed by the property industry this morning, with many predicting a post-election ‘super bounce’. Economic and political uncertainty has stalked the housing …
Labour has given shocking new details of its proposals for the private rental sector including £100.000 fines if properties are deemed substandard. The party says it will introduce a national ‘property MOT’. This would introduce a legal requirement for landlords to complete an independent annual inspection to ensure homes are up to scratch, with fines up to £100,000 and forced …
Labour drops Right to Buy plans Labour has dropped its plans to allow private tenants to buy their homes at a discount. Press reports over the weekend indicated that the policy was now regarded as too complicated to be included in the party’s manifesto for the December 12 General Election. Two months ago Chancellor John McDonnell told the Financial Times …
Reservation agreements are likely to be back in the news on Wednesday when the Government is due to announce the results of a survey of consumers on the specific topic. Public reaction is understood to be highly supportive of legally binding agreements being made at acceptance of offer stage, designed to prevent fall-throughs and money wasted by both buyers and …
A new era for the entire agency sector begins today, with the publication by the Government of a report calling for minimum standards, a single code of practice, and licensing of agents, with the regime to be overseen by a new regulator. Agents have been urged to start preparing now for the new era. The official report, from the Regulation …
Prime minister Theresa May said that a consultation into repealing Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act will be published “shortly with a view to introducing legislation later this year”.
She suggested that a timescale of six months is possible.
The timescale suggests that the ban could be in place as early as next spring.