Planning changes to reduce legal challenges from 3 to 1
Changes to planning rules outlined in the Labour Government’s Plan for Change will reduce the number of times major infrastructure projects can challenged in court tackling the culture of NIMBY-ism says Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer. The government have revealed 58% of all decisions on major infrastructure, like nuclear plants, trainlines and windfarms, are subject […]
Invasive plants impacted by wintry weather conditions
Invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed could be easy to conceal during the Winter as it dies back, and more widely spread because of extreme weather events like flooding say two specialists. Conveyancers and homebuyers are being warned to be vigilant as up to 1 in 20 properties could be affected by Japanese Knotweed say Environet, […]
The importance of ESG amid investor fatigue and greenwashing concerns
In our latest report: Reflections and predictions for sustainability in the property sector in 2025, Landmark’s Sustainability Director Chris Loaring explores the law firm’s perspective on greenwashing risks, integrating ESG policies effectively, and technology’s role in supporting ESG due diligence. With near-term net zero targets just five years away, and global scrutiny intensifying over corporate […]
Search partnership to raise awareness of coastal erosion risks for homebuyers
A new partnership will aim to raise awareness of the risks to property associated with coastal erosion for both consumers and professionals. CoastClear is a newly launched a consumer awareness website, designed to provide homebuyers, households and conveyancing solicitors with essential information on the potential impact of coastal erosion on communities and businesses. The initiative […]
Conveyancers warned to look out for Japanese Knotweed “hotspots”
Analysis of Japanese Knotweed hotspots has identified Bristol, Merseyside and Greater London are the worst affected counties in England. 60,000 verified sightings of Japanese Knotweed have been captured through an online heatmap managed by specialists Environet which tracks the spread of the plant across the UK over the past six years. Users can enter their […]
Data standards body unveils new search quality mark
The Conveyancing Information Executive (CIE), the search data standards body set up in 2020, has announced a revamp of it’s branding and the launch of a new quality mark members will display on search reports. The CIE was founded by Groundsure, Landmark Legal, SearchFlow and Geodesys, with the ambition to “raise data quality and content […]
Landmark update residential environmental reports
‘Remastered’ environmental reports will help with streamlining property transactions following feedback from clients and homebuyers say Landmark Information Group. The environmental search provider says it hopes the updated reports will help conveyancers with the pressures coming ahead of the the first time buyer stamp duty relief deadline in March 2025. The makeover, which covers reports […]
Major lenders refuse to lend on property with spray foam insulation
Major high street and specialist equity release lenders have said they will not lend of property which has spray foam insulation installed. An investigation by the BBC has revealed five of the top 20 lenders, TSB Bank, Skipton Building Society, Co-operative Bank, Principality and equity release lender Aviva, will not lend on properties where spray […]
“Invasive” bamboo warning as 1 in 4 homebuyers would walk away
Conveyancers and homebuyers are being warned of the potential impact of bamboo on properties as awareness grows of the damage it can cause, with a 50% annual increase in enquiries for bamboo removal relating to property transactions in the last six months compared to the same period last year. The research has been conducted by […]
Help Your Clients Better Navigate Brownfield Land: Brownfield Passports and More
Redeveloping brownfield sites in England and Wales can be hugely beneficial for both community and industry. The question is, how do you help your firm’s clients take well-informed advantage of these opportunities in their area? This article, produced by On Point Data partners, Groundsure, will unpack the government’s proposed ‘Brownfield Passports’ scheme and provide solutions […]
“Property lawyers are not environmental experts” – but we must explain potential liabilities
Solicitors and property practitioners are not expected to be experts in environmental law but they must advise clients on the potential impact of climate change on property transactions and signpost them to further resources should the issue arise. In a panel discussion at the Law Society’s Property Conference, the message was clear and practitioners are […]
£68m commitment to unlock brownfield sites for housing
54 councils across the UK will receive a share of £68m to unlock and develop brownfield sites. The funding will be used to deliver on the government’s pledge to build 1.5m homes over the course of this Parliament and deliver on its election promises to help families on to the housing ladder. The funding is […]
Insurers raise flag for new build flood risk
New research from the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has warned a ‘lack of transparency, inconsistency in approach, and poor visibility of the flood mitigation in place’ is undermining the insurance sector’s confidence in the planning system and threatens its ability to underwrite new builds for flood risk. The research, commissioned by the joint […]
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023: Changes to the limitation period for planning enforcement
A significant change to the law effective today (Thursday 24th April) is poised to catch many property lawyers off guard. From today a much stricter approach to planning enforcement will be implemented, impacting property owners, developers, and (not to forget) property lawyers. In England (as opposed to Wales) under the new law, when there is an […]
Extension of Japanese Knotweed responsibilities ‘leaves vendors open to litigation’
The updated TA6 property information form, released by the Law Society in the past week, places a new onus on vendors to be clearer about the risks posed by the incursion onto the property of Japanese Knotweed, and failure to properly identify the risk could lead to more claims warns CLS Property Insight, who point […]
Net Zero – the challenges and the opportunities for the property sector
Women in Residential Property is a pan profession membership group for women working throughout the residential property industry. Through regular virtual and in-person events the group keeps its member updated with important updates and discussions on topics across the residential property sector. In this latest panel discussion, on what is probably the most important topic […]
Electric car chargers to be installed in new homes from 2022
New legislation announced by Boris Johnson will require new homes and buildings, such as supermarkets and workplaces, to install electric vehicle charge points from next year. Under the new regulations up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across England every year before 2030 when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will […]
Secret tunnels: Doors to a hidden realm
Humans are tunneling animals, we may not think we are but we are. We tunnel deeper, further and wider than any other animal. Furthermore, our tunneling systems are complex and unlike anything else in the world. Historical tunneling networks are all around us, they carry water, vehicles and ourselves. We have dug through mountains, under […]
Government and Banks join forces to offer heat-pump loan scheme
In a bid to help UK households achieve the transition to net zero, banks are now preparing to work with the Government to provide a low interest loan scheme which will help fund installations of heat-pumps and other green initiatives. Santander UK has stepped up, saying it will support the Government in devising financial schemes […]
COP26: how climate change is affecting the property sector
In the aftermath of COP26, experts at Groundsure are calling for better climate change due diligence in property transactions to minimise environmental risk and reach sustainability targets. With the average UK household emitting 2.7 tonnes of CO2 every year[1], the UK government has committed to all new homes being highly energy efficient. By 2025, all […]
