The Negotiator - The essential site for residential agents

Your wet weekend roundup of news, views and features

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.

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Connells and Purplebricks criticised during BBC TV investigation 

Connells is accused of conditional selling, while Purplebricks whistleblower alleges firm incentivised 'high valuation' approach to getting listings.

Click here to read Connells and Purplebricks criticised during BBC TV investigation .

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.

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Conveyancers call for 'example' material information fines for estate agents

Trade body for conveyancers says until the property industry takes material information seriously, nothing will ever improve.

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LSL Estate Agency Franchising expands service offering

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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'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.

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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.

 

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

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mark Ridley is to be replaced by current CFO Simon Shaw as Group Chief Executive of the blue-chip agency.

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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.

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.

Foxtons’ branch blockaded during Global Day of Housing Action

 

Letting agents report significant exit of landlords from market

Latest RICS report contains scores of agents saying renting reforms are persuading more landlords to quit the PRS.

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Landlord bats off holding deposit claim in unusual Open Rent case

The UK's largest letting agency has been cited in a battle between a landlord who kept two prospective tenants' £300 holding deposit for a flat.

Click here to read Landlord bats off holding deposit claim in unusual Open Rent case.

NEG OPINION: 'Should all estate agents be 'tarred with the same Panorama brush'?

Many estate agencies and staff are furious that a handful of people have stained the reputation of the industry with their disregard for the law and customers, but is that the whole picture?

Click here to read NEG OPINION: 'Should all estate agents be 'tarred with the same Panorama brush'?.

The Ombudsman Files – International students let down by letting agents

Ombudsman Lesley Horton investigates why a pair of international students weren't able to move into planned accommodation due to its poor condition. 

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Conveyancing body launches referral fees probe after BBC investigation

Council for Licensed Conveyancers reveals BBC probe into conditional selling has persuaded it that estate agent commission for referrals needs a major overhaul.

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MARKETING: 7 types of estate agency marketing content that really work

Varying your agency marketing content helps you reach niche audiences, match form to channel and reinforce your message, says marketing expert, Nelly Berova. 

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FEATURE: CRM software platform focus: 'Property tech that stacks up'

Lisa Isaacs discovers CRMs are the foundation of the property tech stack, with integrations bringing the best software under one roof.

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Weekend washed out? Why not start your entry to The Negotiator Awards?

The Neg Awards is the industry's benchmark of excellence – and a trophy is the best marketing tool you will ever have. It is free to enter, with 33 categories to choose from – there is something for every kind of property business, so get cracking!

Click here to read Weekend washed out? Why not start your entry to The Negotiator Awards?.