Main image: A worried man uses his cell phone and you feel surrounded by secret agents
Who will watch the watchmen: On dirty money & estate agency
The government is finally stepping up the fight against the tide of 'dirty money' flowing through the UK property market, but estate agents shouldn't be the first line of defence, argues Saul Empson...
Saul Empson is an independent property buying agent, offering a personal, bespoke service to a small group of private clients. He has been involved in the central London property market since 1985 and spent his first fifteen years as a selling agent selling residential property and running sales offices for some of the big high street names. In 1999 he made the switch to finding and buying property on behalf of clients instead of selling houses and has never looked back.
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'
By PrimeResi
The Tenant Fees Act: Does it have any teeth?
Barrister Katrina Mather of Hardwicke Chambers explores the realities of the Tenant Fees ban, a "slightly peculiar piece of legislation" that came into force on 1st June
Government makes a major move to ‘professionalise’ the estate agency industry
Sajid Javid announces a plan to introduce mandatory qualifications for estate agents, bringing the profession in line with conveyancers, solicitors and surveyors
By PrimeResi
Companies in this article
HaringtonsMost read
‘Hundreds’ of luxury London flats set for sale after £2bn lender collapse
Around 250 property companies with assets across PCL now under administration.
Former CEO brings ‘significant whistleblowing case’ against Battersea Power Station owners
Lawyers say Don O’Sullivan's case 'raises very important questions about the integrity of financial reporting at Battersea', allegations that the company strongly denies.
By PrimeResi
DDRE reports £89mn in sales so far in 2026; boosts headcount to 55
Expanding PCL brokerage chalks up big-ticket deals and lands first resi development instruction.
Buyer swoops on £19.95mn apartment at The OWO
Deal agreed in just seven days for Raffles-serviced residence at landmark Whitehall scheme.
In Conversation: Lucie Hirst on prime market misconceptions and the new rules of buying
Buying agent Lucie Hirst discusses pricing realism, off-market networks and shifting demand across London and the Cotswolds.
Ranked: The UK’s ‘best places to live’ in 2026
The Sunday Times unveils its influential annual rundown, with Norwich crowned the overall winner and Richmond taking the top spot in London.
On Leasehold Reform: What the big shake-up could mean for prime property investors
Following publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill earlier this year, lawyers Kate Stockdale & Michael Ellis assess the likely impact on ground rents, ownership structures and investor…
Knight Frank toasts £1bn sales milestone at King’s Cross
Agency closes out long-running sales programme at 'transformational' 67-acre regen scheme.
Bidder bags Belgravia duplex for under £1,000 psf
Three-bed apartment between Eaton and Sloane Square sold at auction last week.
Weekly Showcase: Ten featured prime resi listings
PrimeResi's regular stock check, powered by LonRes
LATEST ARTICLES
Top-end developer tackles buyer uncertainty with new pre-purchase advisory service
New offering from Landmass aims to help buyers make 'informed decisions' and accelerate transactions.
‘State of the art’ Kensington townhouse with high-level heritage seeks £16.75mn
This Victorian home raised the game with one of the world's first hydraulic passenger lifts.
By PrimeResi
Sims Hilditch recruits former Linley interior design head
Tom Carpenter joins to lead the high-end firm’s London studio.
Where next for Europe’s branded residential sector?
Scheme numbers set to more than double by 2032 as brands ramp up expansion - but growth is being outpaced globally, new analysis shows.
Buying agency reports ‘deals being agreed at levels that would have been simply dismissed six months ago’
Garrington says it is seeing 'sellers recalibrate as the realities of a more competitive landscape set in.'
By PrimeResi