Ainscough Crane Hire is pursuing a £1.3m claim against Keltbray Plant over alleged damage to a 750-tonne mobile crane during lifting work on a wind turbine in Hull. The dispute centres on responsibility for rigging, supervision and planning under the CPA Crane Hire Agreement, after the crane’s hoist rope allegedly failed and the machine was out of service for 147 days.
A Lewisham landlord and her husband have been fined and ordered to pay compensation after a court found they illegally evicted and harassed a tenant. The case followed a council prosecution and involved removal of locks, threats, and loss of the tenant’s belongings, with the tenant later requiring hospital treatment.
Tribunal activity over market rent disputes has risen sharply since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, with tenants bringing a growing share of cases. Legal commentators say the change is shifting the balance of power towards tenants and increasing the importance of evidence-based rent setting and strict procedural compliance.
A Goodlord snap poll suggests landlords are experiencing greater difficulty regaining possession since the abolition of Section 21 evictions under the Renters’ Rights Act. The report also indicates landlords are responding with tighter tenant vetting, while many are facing higher compliance, insurance and letting costs.
A lettings agent reported by the BBC for allegedly withholding tenant deposits and failing to pass rent to landlords is also said to have incorrectly used Propertymark-related initials on a LinkedIn profile. The article notes that Trading Standards has been informed and that Companies House records show an active strike-off proposal against the business.
The article argues that conveyancing firms using AI should not only track rework as a cost, but also use it as a learning tool to improve workflows and reduce repeat errors. It highlights the importance of feedback loops, especially for identifying quieter but more serious AI failures that may not be obvious in a simple rework ledger.
The article reports that impersonation scams are becoming more costly, with Lloyds data showing a rise in average losses and criminals increasingly using AI-inspired tactics to exploit trust. An AML specialist argues that verification and identity-checking processes are not keeping pace with modern fraud, creating both financial and legal exposure for regulated firms.
The article reports rising losses from impersonation scams, with criminals increasingly using sophisticated tactics and AI-enabled methods to bypass verification checks. An AML expert argues that current identity and compliance controls are not keeping pace, creating both financial harm and legal exposure for regulated firms.
The article reports allegations that some letting agents and landlords are using inflated advertised rents and encouraging offers below asking price to work around the Renters Rights Act’s ban on rental bidding wars. It also raises concerns that some are seeking large upfront payments for bills despite the move to rolling tenancies under the new regime.
Bolton Council has launched an investigation after reports that a number of historic building control certificates may be missing from its system. The council says it is working with its audit committee and the Building Safety Regulator to address the issue and review absent documents.
The article argues that the conveyancer’s role has expanded beyond core legal work to include more compliance, administrative and client-service tasks, contributing to longer transaction times. It highlights government proposals for greater digitalisation, reusable AML checks and AI standards, while suggesting that specialist tasks such as SDLT may be better handled separately.
Government figures show a sharp rise in Right to Buy sales, with eligible council home purchases up 90% year-on-year to 14,275 in 2025-26. The increase is linked to applicants rushing to secure higher discounts before a reduction, while the government is also progressing reforms to tighten eligibility and protect social housing stock.
