Your round-up of the week's top news

Compulsory electrical checks for all rented properties start on April 1st

Government expects its new electrical checks regulations to become law on 1st April 2020, despite worries over availability of engineers.

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Purplebricks co-founder warns former territory owner over critical tweets

Kenny Bruce has told recently-departed Swansea representative Samantha Sullivan to 'maintain her legacy' as star LPE and territory owner.

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Purplebricks and other hybrid LPEs face HMRC crack-down, warn lawyers

Legal firm Osborne Clarke says HMRC wants to recoup some of the £8.3 billion annual undeclared earnings, some of which is hidden by self-employed staff like hybrid agency LPEs, it is claimed.

Click here to read Purplebricks and other hybrid LPEs face HMRC crack-down, warn lawyers.

Should agents drop their fees to compete with online and hybrid agents?

Question is asked by Blackpool estate agent Ben Moore at Esme Properties after he turns down instructions from two vendors after they ask that he matches low fixed fee competitors.

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Yorkshire agent takes up Roy Brooks’ reins for ‘honest property descriptions’

Listings misdescription by estate agency Wilman & Wilman makes it into The Times' diary column as readers celebrate 'no nonsense' but hilarious property descriptions.

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Exclusive: Howsy buys Upad out of liquidation and re-employs staff

Howsy CEO Calum Brannan says the Upad brand and website will be operated as a complementary business and that the acquisition includes Upad's landlord database.

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ANOTHER council wades in to regulate ‘wild west’ Airbnb property sector

Brighton councillors vote through motion calling for Airbnb to draw up list of local 'trusted landlords' as disruption by 'party houses' causes anger in the seaside city.

Click here to read ANOTHER council wades in to regulate ‘wild west’ Airbnb property sector.

The rise of co-living

It’s the quiet revolution in housing choice. Susanna Caulfield, senior associate at Rosling King LLP and Khadijeh Moghaddam, trainee solicitor at Rosling King LLP, provide a legal reflection on the rise of co-living and the potential pitfalls for developers and planners.

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