Legal
Grey Belts & Golden Rules: What new planning reforms could mean for the property sector
From 'golden rules' and the new 'grey belt' to the return of housebuilding targets and the removal of 'beauty', Robert Garden & Grace Owen-Ellis of CMS UK explore how the latest consultation on a revised…
£14mn Knightsbridge townhouse forfeited after six-year NCA investigation
High-profile case involved the UK's first-ever use of UWOs.
Knight Frank rolls out Home Owner’s Passports to ‘transform the way properties are sold’
A tech-led compliance partnership represents 'a leap forward in the use of upfront information in property transactions', says Teal Legal.
Property industry bodies seek ‘real world’ views on Material Information rules
Propertymark and others want to 'generate ideas to drive evolution and ultimately help craft a system that keeps pace and can deliver maximum benefit to all users.'
Law Society survives no-confidence vote over material information rules
The Property Lawyers Action Group unsuccessfully argued that the new TA6 form may 'unnecessarily impose substantially increased criminal and civil liability on solicitors.'
Reservation Agreement stands up in court as buyer who ‘withdrew unreasonably’ told to pay up
This is the first time Gazeal's agreements have been tested in the courts.
Hampshire buyer out of the woods as HMRC loses £225k SDLT case
'Mixed-use' dispute centred around whether 12 acres of woodland formed part of the garden & grounds of a £3mn country residence.
‘A Dickensian legal process’: Why property deals take so long to complete
Propertymark data shows that, in March 2016, 78% of transactions progressed from offer acceptance to exchange of contracts within 12 weeks; in March 2024, the figure had slumped to just 29%.
30% jump in Suspicious Activity reported by estate agents
'While SARs submissions from estate agents have grown, so have the risks posed by fraud and money laundering, warns Thirdfort.'
London law firm boosts real estate team
Naziana Mehdy has joined Fitzrovia-based Spector Constant & Williams as a partner.
It’s complicated: Grosvenor’s sustainability director on EPCs & listed buildings
Sorting out ambiguities in the EPC system is an example of what the industry means when it calls for certainty from government, writes Ed Green.
The Property Ombudsman reports huge increase in cases & payouts
Housing redress scheme found in favour of consumers in 83% of cases in 2023, awarding a total of £1.52mn.