An employment tribunal has upheld claims of pregnancy and sex discrimination against Purplebricks Group plc, awarding a former agent more than £47,000 in damages. The case centred on the handling of the employee’s pregnancy disclosure, return to work on reduced hours, and the failure to adjust performance targets to reflect her circumstances.
Alto has launched a set of AI features designed to automate routine estate and letting agency tasks such as appraisals, listings, sales chasing and email drafting. The company says the tools were developed with external testing because of regulatory risk, and that agents will retain final sign-off before anything is sent.
The article reports growing criticism of the modern method of auction (MMoA), with conveyancers and auction professionals calling for greater transparency around fees, incentives and the way the process is marketed. Concerns centre on buyer confusion, the non-refundable reservation fee, and the pressure created by the 56-day completion timetable, especially where title or information issues emerge late in the process.
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers is consulting licence holders and consumers as part of its review of referral fee arrangements in conveyancing. Its interim findings support referral arrangements where they are transparent and consumer-focused, and the regulator is now seeking evidence to shape clearer guidance and monitoring.
