RICS survey ‘shows a market under pressure and decline in demand’
The August Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows a market under pressure, the organisation says. The monthly sentiment survey of chartered surveyors operating in the residential sales and lettings market suggests most parts of the UK are seeing a decline in the volume of new buyer enquiries, which RICS […]
Focus on first-time buyers as Treasury hosts roundtable with major lenders
Newly appointed economic secretary Lucy Rigby and housing minister Matthew Pennycook have called on lenders to make first-time buyers their top priority, in a roundtable meeting hosted by the Treasury yesterday. The roundtable, which included senior representatives from Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Nationwide, Natwest, Santander and UK Finance, followed a meeting with building societies last week, […]
Planning permission for new homes at record low
Data from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) shows planning permission was granted for just 44,520 new homes in England during the second quarter of this year, the lowest quarterly figure since 2012. Just 1,410 sites were approved between April and June, marking the tenth successive quarter of decline. A total of 8,200 sites were given […]
Draft AML regulations ‘don’t ease burden on conveyancing’
The government has published its draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 2025 for technical consultation, after bringing forward targeted amendments to close regulatory loopholes, address proportionality concerns and account for evolving risks. The draft statutory instrument forms part of the government’s response to a public consultation on improving the effectiveness […]
A new safe and free legal AI tool for everyone
The high court warned lawyers that relying on fake AI-generated citations, even unknowingly, could lead them to face serious professional consequences and risk a wasted costs order. While legal professionals can face severe sanctions when using AI inappropriately, the public should not be left exposed either when they are using AI to understand and resolve […]