Author: Benjamin

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: An employee left an estate agency facing near bankruptcy after stealing close to £80,000 in rent money and deposits from customers of estate agents Sansome and George, which has offices covering Kingsclere and Newbury, Theale, Mortimer and Tadley. The 52-year-old, of St Mary’s Avenue, Purley, was a trusted employee, leaving company directors devastated to discover her deceit. Directors told the court the business nearly went under and continues to deal with the financial and emotional repercussions of Knight’s actions. Knight was only caught because of errors which led to an…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) is calling on the Scottish government to pause the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) for landlords to help alleviate the housing crisis and homelessness north of the border. SAL chief executive, John Blackwood, called for a moratorium on the charge while giving evidence to Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee. His comments reflect ongoing discussions with ministers in which SAL has outlined that a temporary halt on the ADS for landlords would promote investment and confidence in Scotland’s private rented sector…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Fine & Country Norfolk and Suffolk has now donated a total of £42,000 to The Benjamin Foundation, one of East Anglia’s leading charities dedicated to supporting vulnerable and homeless young people across Norfolk and Suffolk. Fine & Country Norfolk and Suffolk says its ongoing partnership, which began in 2021, reflects the firm’s commitment to giving back to the community it serves. A portion of every completed sale from the offices in Beccles, Norwich, Fakenham, Ipswich, Woodbridge and Diss is donated directly to The Benjamin Foundation, and the charity has also…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Attempts to improve the energy efficiency of UK properties are laudable but, without adequate funding and support, are doomed to fail. Energy Performance Certificates have been mandatory since 2007 but are not having the desired effect on the push for energy efficient homes. Introduced following an EU directive, EPCs have had some success in Europe but have not made a huge impression in the UK where we have a much older housing stock. The UK’s housing stock is the oldest of any of European countries, with a greater share of…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The Women in Estate Agency Community (WiEA) successfully conquered the Lake District Ultra Challenge to raise an astonishing £70,000 for Breast Cancer Now in Sarah Edmundson’s Memory. The WiEA community is quite rightly bursting with pride following its latest success earlier this month. No fewer than 70 amazing individuals from across the property industry united to brave the stunning and challenging landscape, ultimately raising welcome funds for charity Breast Cancer Now in memory of their dear friend and board member, Sarah Edmundson who lost her courageous battle with cancer last…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: The property market tends to thrive when the economy is strong and stable. Historically, economic uncertainty has negatively impacted house buying and selling, as people tend not to make big life changes and new investments when job security, the cost of living and political decisions are up in the air. However, today we’re finding that economic shocks aren’t having the same effect on the property market as they used to – and perhaps that’s partly because we’ve become more accustomed to them. Over the last 10 years, we’ve had Brexit,…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Interim Ombudsman Lesley Horton Three estate agents and two letting agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensation awards to consumers. Prime Property Agents on Clarendon Street, Nottingham, failed to refund a buyer’s £7,200 reservation fee after a purchase fell through. The agent did not follow their own terms and conditions, failing to present any suitable alternative properties or refunding the buyer in full. The Property Ombudsman awarded a total of £7,400 to the buyer to reflect the return of the fee and £200 for…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Fine & Country Foundation has announced the appointment of 11 dedicated Fine & Country agents as official Foundation Ambassadors. They will play a pivotal role in supporting The Foundation regionally, significantly boosting awareness of its commitment to aiding vulnerable individuals and communities affected by homelessness, both in the UK and internationally. The new ambassadors will be tasked with encouraging increased funding from Fine & Country licensees across their respective regions. Their efforts will focus on promoting events, pledges, and regular donations, while also bringing fresh ideas and local insights to…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Demand in the rental sector continues to cooling as more tenants seek to get a foot on the housing ladder, the latest Hamptons Monthly Lettings Index has revealed. The number of tenants registering in lettings branches across Great Britain was down 17% on the same time last year and is now running 28% below 2019 levels. This decline in tenant registrations is widespread, with 63% of branches reporting fewer tenants registering in May 2025 compared to May 2024. This marks the twelfth consecutive month in which tenant demand was lower…

[openai_chatbot] rewrite this content and keep HTML tags as is: Raffaele Russo Letting agency loc8me has expanded into Lincoln with a new office and four new staff roles. The student letting firm, supported by a new five-person team, will aim to cater to the approximately 15,000 students currently attending Lincoln’s main universities, the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University. Other loc8me locations include Loughborough, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Durham, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester, Hull, Bath and Bristol. For the office’s opening day, the team launched a ‘Spin the Wheel’ competition in which students had the chance to win 10%…