Compliance
Government teams up with property & finance industries to tackle fraud
NAEA Propertymark joins the Government's new Economic Crime Strategic Board
Home Office rethinks ‘golden visa’ clampdown
Government slammed for 'trying to legislate by press release' after backtracking on surprise suspension of Tier 1 investor visas
Government suspends ‘golden visa’ scheme
Corruption crackdown brings halt on all new applications for Tier 1 investor visas, which require assets of £2m or more
HMRC fines for money laundering ‘more than double in a year’
The average fine for money laundering breaches is now £3,448 - seven times higher than it was two year ago.
Minister accuses estate agents of under-reporting suspicious activity
“It is remarkable how few Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) come from estate agents given that they are the main facilitators,” declared the Minister of State for Security, Ben Wallace, during a Trea…
Flag It Up: Government extends ‘dirty money’ campaign to target estate agents
Tie-up with the RICS and the NAEA aims to 'help agents spot the signs of money laundering and reinforce their legal and moral obligations to report suspicious activity'
High Court throws out challenge to UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order
Wife of 'fat cat international banker' must now explain how she was able to afford £22m worth of property; judgement 'may prove to be a turning point in the UK’s fight against dirty money', say anti-corruption cam…
UK’s ‘dirty money’ crackdown sparks super-prime sell-off in London
National Crime Agency reports 'change in behaviour' as new powers make it harder to hide ill-gotten gains
UK HNW investor visas hold their appeal
UK immigration stats show falling numbers - but nearly a third more high net worth Investor Visas were granted in the year to July compared to the previous 12 months, and twice as many as in the year from…
What real impact would a public register of beneficial owners have on the UK property sector?
The new draft Bill promises more transparency in the UK property industry, but will it cause headaches for estate agents, solicitors and developers - and will it put off overseas investors?
Beneficial Ownership Register to be enforced with five-year jail sentences & unlimited fines
Draft legislation to bring in 'the world’s first public register of overseas entities’ beneficial ownership' has gone before Parliament, promising real teeth in the battle against 'dirty money' in UK …
Money laundering fines rocket as HMRC gets tough on dodgy dealings
Volume of fines handed down to UK companies - including estate agencies - nearly doubled in 2017-18