A solicitor with nearly five decades of practice has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after admitting multiple conveyancing failings across three transactions. The case involved delayed or failed HM Land Registry registration, unanswered requisitions, breach of an undertaking, and non-cooperation with the SRA investigation, with the tribunal finding the conduct deliberate, repeated and serious.
The Planning Inspectorate has overturned Cheshire East Council’s refusal of Bloor Homes’ outline application for up to 200 homes off Prestbury Road in Macclesfield. The inspector gave significant weight to the council’s shortfall in five-year housing land supply, accepted the site as Grey Belt, and found only minor landscape harm with no highway safety objection upheld.
An Employment Tribunal in Sheffield dismissed an unfair dismissal claim brought by a former property manager at a Selby lettings agency, finding that she had resigned rather than been dismissed. The case also involved allegations of improper withdrawals from the company account and tenants being instructed to pay rent into a personal bank account, with a criminal investigation reported to be under way.
A Salford development scheme described as the tallest tower outside London has been sent back to committee after a conflict ruling. The scheme had previously been approved last November, but the decision now requires further consideration.
Knight Frank argues that the Renters Rights Act is having unintended consequences, with tighter rules and reduced landlord confidence contributing to lower supply and higher advertised rents. The article also links anticipated EPC C requirements from 2030 and tax pressures to further constraints on rental stock, particularly in London markets.
Goodlord’s analysis suggests tenancy fraud is a significant and growing issue in the UK private rented sector, with suspected cases rising sharply in 2025 and London showing the highest rates. The report highlights increasing use of AI to fabricate documents and identities, and estimates the average direct exposure per fraudulent tenancy at £9,601.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on the safe use, storage and disposal of sheep dip to reduce the risk of groundwater pollution. It sets out competency, permitting, siting and storage requirements, and warns that misuse can contaminate drinking water sources and lead to prosecution.
LEASE has launched a free online tool for leaseholders in England and Wales to check remaining lease term and estimate lease extension costs, combining its previous lease length checker and calculator. The accompanying analysis suggests around 8% of residential leases have 80 to 90 years remaining, with the highest concentration in London, the South East and Eastern regions.
Zoopla says flat sales are taking longer, with around four in five flats not selling within six months, reflecting weaker demand and greater uncertainty in the sector. The article links this to leasehold complexity, service charges, ground rents, building safety concerns and lender caution, with the flat-house price gap now at a three-decade high.
Street Group has updated its platform to embed the government’s official Form 4A into the rent review workflow, allowing letting agents to generate, sign and serve rent increase notices for periodic tenancies within one system. The change is intended to reduce manual administration and create a clearer audit trail for compliance purposes.
The Environment Agency reports that drought conditions have expanded across England following the driest July in 190 years and very low rainfall so far in August. The National Drought Group says all regions are now under pressure, with more areas moving into drought status and water-use restrictions affecting over 27 million people.
The First-tier Tribunal has published an updated Form N463 for asking the Administrative Court to urgently consider starting a judicial review. The update includes revised email addresses, a replaced Welsh version, and changes made to reflect amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules on judicial review.
