The article outlines a proposed shift of AML and counter-terrorist financing supervision from the SRA and other professional body supervisors to the FCA. It says firms should prepare for a more data-led supervisory approach that focuses on whether controls are operating effectively, not just whether policies exist on paper.
Southern Water has been fined £7.1 million after repeated illegal sewage discharges between 2019 and 2021 polluted coastal waters and forced beach closures in Kent. The Environment Agency said the incidents were preventable and highlighted failures in equipment maintenance, operational oversight and timely reporting to regulators.
The article explains the process for appealing a decision to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000 or designate a body under the National Security Act 2023. It sets out where to send applications, the 42-day appeal deadline, and the role of the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission in hearing and determining cases.
Police are investigating alleged fraud, money laundering and missing client funds at PS&B Estate Management Limited, formerly Parsons, Son & Bailey, following the arrest of a staff member. The firm, which specialises in block management, has also faced bank account freezes, unpaid staff, Trading Standards scrutiny and repeated Companies House filing issues.
Research cited by the NRLA suggests that English councils have increased property inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, but are collecting only a small proportion of fines issued to landlords for housing offences. The article argues that weak fine recovery and limited transparency in enforcement are undermining confidence in the private rented sector.
LRG has partnered with Nexus to provide Making Tax Digital support across its UK lettings network, covering agent-managed landlords using rent collection or fully managed services. The rollout is positioned as one of the largest MTD implementations in the lettings sector, with the software designed to streamline record-keeping and reporting for landlords.
New data from the NRLA indicates that councils in England have increased property inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, but are collecting only around a quarter of the fines issued to landlords for housing offences. The article also notes calls for greater transparency, including annual council reporting on private rented sector enforcement activity.
The Environment Agency has issued Regulatory Position Statement RPS 336 on accepting non-hazardous filter cake waste from soil and aggregate washing facilities at landfill and deposit for recovery sites. It clarifies that the statement does not remove the need for an environmental permit, but sets out circumstances where enforcement action would not normally be taken if the stated requirements are met.
The Planning Inspectorate has updated its procedural guide for planning appeals relating to applications submitted on or before 31 March 2026. The revisions cover online submission limits for discontinuance notice appeals, updated appeal process guidance, changes linked to enforcement and late representations, and references to newer procedural materials and service channels.
The article argues that reducing requisitions in the conveyancing process is a shared responsibility between conveyancers and HM Land Registry (HMLR). It notes a reported 7% fall in avoidable requisitions raised by the profession, while also highlighting HMLR’s own review of its requisition practices and its plans to consult on further improvements.
Southern Water has pleaded guilty to environmental permit breaches after the Environment Agency found polluted discharges from its Fullerton wastewater treatment works entered the River Test in Hampshire. The incident involved elevated suspended solids and iron, with the company also failing to notify the regulator promptly when problems were identified.
The Environment Agency has told South West Water to pursue appropriate sewage treatment for the Isles of Scilly and confirmed that any proposed outfall and screening solution will be assessed through the permitting process. The company remains responsible for bringing the inherited wastewater system up to legal standards by 30 September 2027, with public consultation to follow once the application is duly made.
