UK estate agents fined £600,000 for price-fixing

Competition watchdog exposes three firms who colluded for years prompting fears of cartels operating across UK

A ring of estate agency firms that colluded to fix commissions at high levels across Berkshire has been broken up and collectively fined more than £600,000.

The estate agents, which handled most property sales in Wokingham and other parts of Berkshire, conspired to keep commissions at rates understood to be above 1.8% on each house sale, and even set up a penalty system for agents who broke their rules.

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What to do when you’ve found a dream home and your buyer walks away Nottingham Estate Agents

Are you worried your buyer might walk away? Sam Samuel, Director at Edward Ashdale, Bromley, gives his advice on what you can do to protect yourself The last thing that you want to happen once you have found a dream home is to see your buyer walk away. According to Sam Samuel, Director at Edward […]

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Investors could face cash restrictions on Woodford-style funds

Bank of England looks at rules after gating or UK property fund and Neil Woodford saga

Investors could be blocked from pulling out their cash at short notice unless they are willing to take a hit on the value of their investment, the Bank of England has warned.

Proposals put forward by City regulators will put the investment sector back in the spotlight after the gating of one of the UK’s largest property funds this month and the high-profile collapse of Neil Woodford’s investment empire.

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What are winter gardens and where can I find one?

Let us show you.

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2020 forecast of 2% price rise as election gives window of certainty

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My working week: 'I see the appalling houses my clients live in and feel sick'

I work to support tenants who are being exploited by criminal landlords and are sometimes living in dangerous conditions

I work for a charity that supports tenants who are victimised by criminal landlords, in partnership with local authorities across London. My week begins with a 5am alarm and a strong coffee, before I accompany a local authority enforcement team on a raid of a property that we suspect is being let illegally.

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Is it a good idea to 'port' my mortgage to buy my partner's home?

Our plan is to sell my house, move into hers and then sell that and buy one together

Q My partner and I both own our own homes but we’re planning to move in together soon. Our plan is for me to sell my house, then move in with my partner at her house. Shortly afterwards she would sell her house and we will then buy a new house together. This is to avoid setting up a complicated chain which will make it difficult to complete a purchase.

My house is worth around £140,000 and I have a mortgage balance of around £90,000. Her house is worth around £110,000 and she has a mortgage balance of £50,000.

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