Brunel Group expanded further into the southwest today (Monday 20 June) with the opening of their Newton Abbot office. Fittingly situated in the Kingdom Business Centre on Brunel Road, Brunel continue to build on their strong national presence and are…read more
Four estate agents fined £370,000 for price fixing. Published May 2017
Four estate agents which colluded to set a minimum commission of 1.5 per cent denied local home-owners selling their property the chance of securing a better deal according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The four have been fined…read more
Rates slashed for business properties under renovations. Published May 2017
Office buildings undergoing renovation may be entitled to a significant cut in business rates following a landmark Supreme Court ruling. Property developer S J & J Monk (Monk) had the rateable value of an office it owned slashed from £102,000…read more
Well-drafted retainer protects professional firm from damages
A professional firm has seen off a claim for damages by a client as its retainer letter clearly set out the limit of its duties. “This case is yet another reminder of the vital role played by a well-drafted retainer…read more
Broker escapes damages following clear cut negligence.
An insurance broker who failed to set up a professional indemnity insurance policy for his client has escaped paying damages as no loss was suffered by his client. Rodney Channon was a chartered accountant and also a director of a…read more
Supreme Court resolves solicitors’ PI aggregation clause question?
The disagreement over the exact meaning of the solicitors’ professional indemnity aggregation clause has received further comment by the Supreme Court. The ruling provides greater clarity for solicitors about when similar professional indemnity insurance claims can be aggregated together into…read more
New protocol published to tackle disruption delays and disputes
Delays and disruption on construction projects often lead to disputes between contractors, developers and other parties. Now the Society of Construction Law has published an updated Delay and Disruption Protocol which provides guidance to all sides on how to agree…read more
Solicitor fails to force insurer to indemnify £4.65m mortgage fraud
A Solicitor has failed in her attempt to force an insurer to pay out a £4.65m professional indemnity insurance claim, following a mortgage fraud. The court found that the solicitor had acted dishonestly which prevented her from pursuing a claim…read more
Property Ombudsman streamlines dispute resolution services.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has overhauled its dispute resolution process to deliver a more streamlined service to consumers. The TPO helps more than 16,000 consumers and agents to resolve property disputes every year. Under the new structure, complaints will be…read more
Cybercrime and fraud now the most common offences.
Over five million cases of cybercrime and fraud occurred in 2016, according to the annual Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), making it the most common offence in the country. Professional firms must redouble their efforts to protect themselves…read more
