Conveyancers bear the brunt of recent AML sanctions
Conveyancers have been bearing the brunt of the most recent sanctions for AML breaches, with financial penalties totalling £109,500 for breaches related to ‘high-risk’ conveyancing transactions. Although the government has acknowledged the rules are ‘a major burden’ on firms and pledged reforms before the end of the year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) shows no […]
National roll-out for online planning appeals service
The Planning Inspectorate’s new digital appeals service is being rolled out nationally following a successful pilot with five London boroughs. The roll-out will take place in three phases, with all authorities in England joining the service by December. The service has been piloted in five London boroughs (Barnet, Greenwich, Havering, Richmond upon Thames, and Bromley), where […]
Fifth of buyers have pulled out of purchases, while half want Scottish-style rules
A survey by Compare My Move suggests that up to a fifth of home-buyers have pulled out of their purchase before completion, while half of those questioned said Scottish-style rules would improve the moving experience. The survey of 2,000 adults in England and Wales found that more than half of those questioned (52%) said they […]
Have housing developers become bullies, or have they always been?
In the challenging world of property chains, stress is a given, but all too often that stress crosses a line. Recent comments from property lawyers expose a darker side of the housing market: developers bullying buyers and property professionals in order to try to get them to exchange of contracts before all relevant due diligence […]