The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the UK housing market, with a combination of government and business action virtually halting house sales and new home building. The government has asked estate agents to work with their clients and all parties in…read more
Government sets up new building safety regulator. Published March 2020
The Government is to establish a new building safety regulator within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It intends that the new regulator will raise building safety and performance standards and will oversee a new, more stringent regime for higher-risk…read more
New home warranty insurer forced to pay out for defective flats. Published March 2020
Zurich Insurance has been forced to pay over £10 million for repairs to a large block of flats in Manchester after owners complained their homes were unsafe. The Court of Appeal ruling sets out the proper interpretation of a liability…read more
Couple sued after failing to reveal neon-lit motel ‘next door’. Published February 2020
A couple are being sued over the sale of their luxury lake-side barn conversion after they failed to reveal plans to build a neon-lit motel ‘next door’. Now the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is warning agents to check…read more
Construction industry court disputes increase following Carillion collapse. Published February 2020
Construction industry disputes reaching the High Court have leapt over the last three years in the wake of the Carillion collapse. Around 400 construction cases were heard by the Technology & Construction Court in 2019, up by nearly 28%…read more
The Property Ombudsman hikes fees for members. Published January 2020
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has increased its fees for members by 15% from 1 January 2020 and has announced larger rises for the agents which attract the most complaints. The Ombudsman says it is responding to the increased cost of…read more
Construction JV partners settle £5m water treatment plant dispute. Published January 2020
A row between two members of a construction Joint Venture (JV) has been settled by the court with over £5m in delayed payments being handed over. Construction and support services business Interserve Construction Limited had teamed up with water treatment…read more
Estate agents warned about money laundering risks. Published December 2019
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has warned its members that they must comply with Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulations. The move follows an announcement from HMRC that it had fined online estate agency, emoov, for breaching the AML…read more
Adjudicators’ decisions impacted by insolvency. Published December 2019
A couple who had a dispute with their housebuilder have fought off an application for their money to go into a general pot for the benefit of all creditors after the builder became insolvent. The builder had entered into a…read more
Japanese knotweed disproportionately singled out says government. Published November 2019
Japanese knotweed may have been disproportionately singled-out over other invasive plants the government has said. It was responding to a report by The Science and Technology Committee which called for more research into the effects of knotweed on the built…read more
