Groundsure celebrates its 20th anniversary

Groundsure client care clauses

Following 20 years of innovation and transformation, Groundsure is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Long-serving team members Stuart Telfer, Catherine Shiers, Dan Montagnani, Ceri Sansom and Malcolm Smith discuss their journey ahead of anniversary celebrations in London on September 9. Having worked at the company for a combined total of 63 years, they discuss the changes […]

SearchFlow launches ESG Due Diligence reporting service for Lawyers

SearchFlow, one of the UK’s largest providers of legal due diligence data for residential and commercial property transactions, has today announced the launch of a new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) due diligence report service to support real estate lawyers in accurately assessing ESG risk during M&A and investment deals. As an extension of its […]

How to Deal with “Further Actions”

When a ‘Further Action’ result is returned from an environmental search report it can at first be concerning, however it does not mean that this result cannot be overcome and is simply an indication that additional information or checks must be carried out, to ensure the property purchaser is protected. Thankfully, the answer to what […]

Property at risk of potential £413m subsidence damage due to climate change

Gamma Location Intelligence (Gamma LI), which provides risk assessment technology to Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance companies, is aiming to help the insurance industry save hundreds of millions of pounds in claims through its latest partnership with Terrafirma. Together, Gamma LI and Terrafirma – a company which helps homebuyers, lenders and insurance companies to assess […]

You can rely on our commercial searches for potential high street homes

New rules making it easier for commercial buildings to be converted into residential homes have come in to force this month. As part of government plans designed to revitalise the UK’s beleaguered high streets, it’s now possible to transform an unused commercial building such as a former shop or café into a home without going […]

Up to 3m homes powered by hydrogen within next ten years

The UK government wants up to 3m homes to be powered by hydrogen by 2030, as part of its strategy to move to the low carbon energy source. Its hydrogen strategy released today sets out how transport, business and construction will harness the green-friendly gas creating up to 9,000 new jobs and unlocking £4bn in […]

Recent sinkhole in Norwich: what could be the cause?

In recent years, the term sinkhole is one that has become ever more common in our media headlines. Defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “a large hole that suddenly appears in the ground when the surface of the ground is no longer supported”1. They are a menacing phenomenon that continue to cause disruption and damage […]

Contaminated land equivalent proposal for cladding recourse

A “Polluter Pays” amendment to the Building Safety Bill is under consideration in government and would place the costs for cladding  remediation on the construction industry. The Bill would enable government to pursue developers and builders for interim safety and final remediation costs in the same way contaminated land liabilities sit with the polluter. The […]

Onesearch Risk Series: Coal Mining

This guest post has been written for the OneSearch Risk Series by Philip Huddleston MRICS, Director of PinPoint Coal Ltd. With changed economic and political influences, coal mining has now virtually ceased in the UK. Although there are a few proposals for underground mines in the pipeline (such as the proposal to mine Coking coal […]

Cladding crisis stalls again as lenders and RICS await guidance update

The Government’s plan to unlock at least some of the property market paralysed by the cladding crisis has faced yet another setback. New hope for leaseholders of properties in low rise buildings was offered last month when Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that buildings under 18 metres in height would no longer need an EWS1 […]

Climate change concerns for coastal properties in landslide prone areas

A major 40 m landslide occurred at Nefyn Bay in North Wales earlier this year sparking concern for nearby residents and business owners. The area is prone to regular small-scale cliff collapses due to the superficial deposits of clays and silts making up Nefyn Bay which are easily eroded by the sea. More concerning, however, […]

Housing industry COVID-19 guidance updates

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has issued further advice for those working within the home buying and selling process and those moving home. Latest Government guidance has been issued in accordance with the transition in England to step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown, which came into effect on 19th […]

What is Japanese knotweed?

Officially titled Fallopia Japonica, Japanese Knotweed is a plant native to east Asia. It arrived in Europe during the 19th century, and unaware of its ability to cause harm it was planted freely. It was even celebrated for its pretty flowering branches! Sometimes mistaken for bamboo, Japanese knotweed grows from rhizomes that are situation deep […]

Jenrick announces changes to pre-mortgage cladding checks

Owners of up to 800,000 flats left valued at zero following the Grenfell Tower disaster and resulting cladding scandal may now be able to sell following new Government advice over fire safety requirements. The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick said that an independent panel of experts had found that small and medium blocks of flats less […]

Just one fifth of people can identify UK’s most invasive plant

Only 22% of British adults can correctly identify Japanese knotweed from other plant species commonly found in British gardens, leaving almost four fifths of people in the UK extremely vulnerable to the risks posed by the UK’s most invasive plant, reveals new research from YouGov and invasive plants specialist Environet. From a photographic plant identification […]

Building Beautiful in Britain, says Jenrick

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has this morning previewed his view of the future of British house building in an article in The Times. “Building Beautiful Places” sets out a vision of “a planning system that puts beautiful, environmentally sustainable, and life-enhancing places at its heart.” Having overseen the largest number of new build properties in a […]

Japanese knotweed – what is it and what are the risks to homeowners?

What is Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed is a rapidly spreading weed that is native to East Asia but arrived in Europe in the 19th century.  Sometimes mistaken for bamboo, Japanese knotweed can grow up to 3 metres deep and up to 7 metres across and above ground can reach heights of 2-3 metres.  Knotweed will […]

3 things you probably didn’t already know about ESG

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is complex – with nuances, reliance on multiple data sources, and more! Yet it’s something law firms need to develop a greater understanding of, as investors are increasingly looking to improve sustainability measures across their property portfolios. Ahead of tmgroup’s next tm:tv session – in partnership with Landmark – […]

Flood Risk: Are we doing enough to protect ourselves and our assets?

Written for OneSearch by Mark Taylor, Channel Manager at Landmark Information and environmental auditor with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.   Flood Risk: Are we doing enough to protect ourselves and our assets? A flood is the most effective and indiscriminate ‘burglar’ there is. It will take everything you have, including items of […]

Legal Sector Report: Digitally Connecting with Clients

We are in a digital age – but how is the legal sector faring? It is time to play catch up or miss out, but how do you both improve client experience and fee earner and support staff productivity? Creating a less disjointed process is key, understanding how to use digital tools to enhance a law firms’ […]