Your weekend roundup of top news and views

LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering

MD Paul Hardy announces strategic partnership with B-hive Block Management to boost franchisees' growth potential.

Click here to read LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering.

'Size of first-time buyer Stamp Duty bomb clearer'

Stuart Haire at Skipton Group says number of areas where Stamp Duty will hit first-time homes is set to quadruple.

Click here to read 'Size of first-time buyer Stamp Duty bomb clearer'.

Decade of dedication for The Propertymark Trust

Veteran estate agency manager and property consultant, John Oakley, is celebrating 10 years as trustee of The Propertymark Trust.

Click here to read Decade of dedication for The Propertymark Trust.

Agent slams Rightmove for 'daylight robbery' after setting up fees petition

Shaun Adams of Cooper Adams tells The Neg he is calling for an investigation into the portal's charging policies after facing an 18% hike.

Click here to read Agent slams Rightmove for 'daylight robbery' after setting up fees petition.

COURTS: Landlord wins 'important' appeal in rent to rent case

Amlendu Kumar wins appeal in what a leading property lawyer says is an "important new decision" affecting rent-to-rent agreements and rent repayment orders.

Click here to read COURTS: Landlord wins 'important' appeal in rent to rent case.

Number of former rental properties for sale rises as CGT changes loom

Research by Rightmove among its listings shows the proportion of former rented properties within the market rising to 18%.

Click here to read Number of former rental properties for sale rises as CGT changes loom.

xxx

Walsall is consulting on plans that will force both the owners of smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation to apply for planning permission.

Click here to read xxx.

Foxtons makes surprise move into London commuter towns with acquisitions

The London-based agent has spent some £12m buying two estate agencies, one in Reading and the other in Watford, both bought from private shareholders.

Click here to read Foxtons makes surprise move into London commuter towns with acquisitions.

Stamp Duty hike to ‘damage’ rental market warn auctioneers

2% rise in budget for SDLT will lead to investors exiting the market, reduce supply and push up rents says NAVA.

Click here to read Stamp Duty hike to ‘damage’ rental market warn auctioneers.

Guild reports 'thousands of referrals' via network

Guild of Property Professionals chief Iain McKenzie says its referral system has generated 2,086 referrals for its network since the start of the year.

Click here to read Guild reports 'thousands of referrals' via network.

'Criminal’ landlord trio hit with huge £450k HMO fine

A group of three West Northants landlords have together been fined a total of £452,796 for a series of unlicensed and unsafe HMOs.

Click here to read 'Criminal’ landlord trio hit with huge £450k HMO fine.

New workers' rights shake-up to impact estate agencies

Employees working for property businesses will be able to claim unfair dismissal from day one of a new job, under a new government bill.

Click here to read New workers' rights shake-up to impact estate agencies.

AGENT BLOG: After Scotland's rent cap lifted, guess what happened next?

Nicky Lloyd of ESPC Lettings in Edinburgh reflects on the rental market in Scotland six months after a rent cap and ban on evictions were scrapped.

Click here to read AGENT BLOG: After Scotland's rent cap lifted, guess what happened next?.

AUCTION UPDATE: Residential sales driving resilience in auction market

The latest property auction market insights from Essential information Group's David Leary reveals the dominance of residential sales.

Click here to read AUCTION UPDATE: Residential sales driving resilience in auction market.

Airbnb 'won't take down illegally-sublet listings' claims landlord

The short-lets giant has not taken down a listing despite being informed that the Central London property is being illegally sublet, it is claimed.

Click here to read Airbnb 'won't take down illegally-sublet listings' claims landlord.

Huge rise in number of sales fall-throughs reported

Homebuyers are still struggling with higher mortgage rates and so more and more sales are falling through says Moverly’s Gemma Young.

Click here to read Huge rise in number of sales fall-throughs reported.

Senior figures warn over rising demand but shrinking supply in PRS

Both Goodlord and NRLA say more landlords have or are about to shrink portfolios, while tenant demand continues to be super strong.

Click here to read Senior figures warn over rising demand but shrinking supply in PRS.

RICS senior denies wrongdoing after judge's critical comments

New RICS President Justin Sullivan accused of not grasping the detail or answering questions properly during moth mansion case evidence.

Click here to read RICS senior denies wrongdoing after judge's critical comments.

Estate agent duo recognised for sales success at global event

Mark Buchanan and Amie Brooks, both of whom work within the eXp UK network, flew to the gala estate agent event in Miami.

Click here to read Estate agent duo recognised for sales success at global event.

CLAIM: High St agents face double threat of rising costs and stiffer competition

Bricks-and-mortar estate agencies facing higher staff costs and increased competition from the growing number of ‘personal’ agents according to Property Experts founder.

Click here to read CLAIM: High St agents face double threat of rising costs and stiffer competition.

Bill to ban Section 21 evictions published – industry reaction

The Government takes its first step towards scrapping Section 21 'no fault' evictions with the first reading in Parliament of the Renters' Rights Bill.

Click here to read Bill to ban Section 21 evictions published – industry reaction.

Airbnb set to compete with lettings agents for longer rentals

Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky says the company is eyeing longer-term rentals as a lucrative new area of business, putting his firm soon in direct competition with some agents.

Click here to read Airbnb set to compete with lettings agents for longer rentals.

Big London council boss celebrates £20,000 fines for landlords

A Haringey Council crackdown on landlords and agents is part of its new 'zero tolerance' policy, says chief Sarah Williams.

Click here to read Big London council boss celebrates £20,000 fines for landlords.

BLOG: It's time conveyancers and estate agents 'buried the hatchet'

Solicitors and agents need to forge better relationships – it will make everyone's jobs easier and speed up property sales, says Adam Bainbridge of RG Law.

Click here to read BLOG: It's time conveyancers and estate agents 'buried the hatchet'.

Movers & Shakers in property – who goes where?

Heading up our latest career stars is Alexandra Crocker who's joined APW Property as Area Manager. See who else is on the move this week...

Click here to read Movers & Shakers in property – who goes where?.

Tenant referencing giant buys competitor

The Lettings Hub has been acquired by Canopy, giving the combined business a database of some 2,500 letting agents.

Click here to read Tenant referencing giant buys competitor.