Brand came 13th: What 1,000 consumers actually told us about how the choose a law firm
Sam Borrett, founder of Legmark, ran a survey of 1,000 UK adults to find out how people really pick a law firm and what’s important to them when choosing. The results are uncomfortable reading for anyone whose marketing strategy leans on heritage, awards or a sleek brand, and quietly hopeful for everyone else. I’ve spent […]
Searches, supplier panels and the question of consumer choice in conveyancing
In the debate over conditional selling by estate agents, are conveyancers throwing stones in glass houses? Daniel Hamilton-Charlton, CEO of Property Searches Direct, examines the process surrounding conveyancing searches. There is an increasing conversation within conveyancing circles about conditional selling in estate agency practice, particularly where consumers are encouraged or required to use in-house […]
Modified Affordability Assessments ‘a boon for consumers’ but more needs to be done to raise awareness
A national mortgage brokerage network has welcomed the impact of last year’s Modified Affordability Assessments (MAAs), as newly released data showed the number of borrowers moving to a new lender using MAAs more than doubled in the wake of the FCA’s changes to the regime last summer Stonebridge said the initiative by the Financial Conduct […]
‘Impossible for LSB to meet objectives’, Legal Services Consumer Panel warns
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has shared its critical response to the Ministry of Justice’s review of the Legal Services Board, claiming its “fragmented and outdated regulatory design” make it impossible to meet its statutory objectives. The Panel – an independent arm of the Legal Services Board – says the LSB is constrained by the […]
Legal compliance provider launches free digital identity wallet for UK consumers
Legal Brokers Ltd, a UK provider of biometric identity verification services to law firms, has launched a free digital identity wallet designed to give individuals greater control over identity verification and simplify the property transaction process. The iDWallet.com app allows users to download and retain a digital wallet at no cost. Where identity verification is […]
Lack of digital ID education is leaving consumers vulnerable to fraud
Identity verification leader Credas Technologies, a SmartSearch company, is calling for a national effort to educate consumers on digital identity and processes, warning that widespread lack of understanding is exposing the nation to fraud risk and holding back adoption of more secure verification methods. Research into UK-based homebuyers – who undergo some of the most […]
LSB should strengthen oversight to safeguard consumers, Law Society says
The Legal Services Board (LSB) should continue to strengthen its oversight of regulators’ performance to avoid consumer harm and prevent collapses such as Axiom Ince and SSB Group from happening again, the Law Society of England and Wales says. The comments were made in the Law Society’s response to the LSB’s 2026/2027 business plan consultation, […]
‘Under-served’ consumers to receive lending boost under new FCA mortgage plans
First-time buyers, the self-employed and later-life lenders could get a step-up onto the housing ladder under plans announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week. The regulator has shared its priorities for reforms to the mortgage market in its Mortgage Rule Review Feedback statement and Roadmap for 2026, which sets out how it plans […]
Later life lending ‘increasingly mainstream’ with better education needed for consumers
The increasing number of mortgage applications from older borrowers means later life lending should be considered more mainstream, according to James Tucker, CEO of mortgage tech firm Twenty7tec. The claim is supported by the number of mortgage searches conducted through the Twenty7tec platform. In the first five months of 2025 alone, over-55s accounted for: 122,000+ […]
Consumers call for regulation as fifth of buyers say viewings were conditional on using estate agent brokers
Research carried out in the wake of Panorama’s exposé on conditional selling by estate agents has revealed overwhelming public support for stricter regulations in the industry, with a fifth of respondents saying viewings were conditional on using estate agent mortgage brokers. In a survey of 1,000 recent buyers and sellers across England, carried out by […]
Consumers back material information, but confusion reigns amongst property professionals
A consumer survey has found that an overwhelming majority of respondents (94%) back the provision of material information in the home moving process – but a survey of property professionals found almost all (96%) feel unsupported as they try to navigate recent regulatory changes regarding their obligations. In an iamproperty survey of 350 consumers, 94% […]
New Shared Ownership Code ‘will protect consumers and set sector benchmarks’
A cross-sector initiative of housing groups, banks, building societies and other official bodies has launched an official code to standardise best practice and consumer protection for shared ownership in England. The Shared Ownership Code, released by the Shared Ownership Council, aims to ensure transparency, fairness and improved support for shared owners in the marketing, purchasing […]
A record 73,000 consumers asked The Property Ombudsman for help last year
The Property Ombudsman received a record number of contacts in 2024, with more than 73,000 consumers seeking support with property-related issues – 27% more than the previous year. Although the majority of enquiries came from renters, the ombudsman said there has been a growing demand for the service from leaseholders and a high level of […]
Consumer confidence in housing market declines, affordability still key factor
Fewer than one in five people in the UK believe it’s a good time to buy a home, according to the latest Property Tracker survey from the Building Societies Association (BSA). The data from the BSA, which represents all building societies and mutual-owned banks in the UK, reveals that just 17% of respondents agree that […]
RICS launches consumer guide to residential energy retrofitting
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a free guide to making homes more energy efficient. The retrofitting advice, available on the RICS website, is aimed at consumers and follows the institution’s industry focused guide released in March last year. Topics covered by the new guide include heating, appliances, ventilation, insulation and professional energy […]
Consumer protection regime to be policed by CMA
The regulatory regime which has seen the introduction of material and up front information is to transfer to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following implementation of The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), which passed into law on 24 May 2024. DMCC replaces and updates the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, […]
Consumer spray foam guidance published by new trade association
A new trade association has published guidance for homeowners on how they can deal with spray foam installation after consumer groups advised homeowners not to install spray foam insulation because of the risks associated with incorrect installation. In a joint letter to Miatta Fahnbulleh Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ali Rushanara MP, […]
‘Vital’ consumers remain confident in the property market as mortgage approval numbers released
It is ‘vital’ consumers remain optimistic about property market momentum as an expected fall in net borrowing in February compared to January has been reported in the latest Bank of England (BoE) Money and Credit report. Net borrowing decreased £900m in February having risen £800m in January 2025. The result is the annual growth rate […]
Digital property packs a good idea say consumers – Survey
Digital property packs are a good idea say four in five consumers but the gap between their understanding of property transactions, and the reality, is driving delays, a lack of transparency, and inefficiencies in the property market. A recent survey of home movers identified 82% of consumers believe Digital Property Packs are a good idea, […]
Roundtable highlights consumer misunderstanding of conveyancing
Conveyancing is ‘done to’ consumers, rather than them being active participants in the process, engendering a misunderstanding of the role and importance of conveyancing and leaving home movers frustrated with little recourse to put things right if they go wrong. The sentiment was shared at the latest Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) roundtable, at which […]