Dubious deals and divine dues: 10 property stories you might have missed

From hard-selling estate agents to an archaic law on church repairs, here’s what’s been making news in the property world.

1. Dubious sales tactics at two leading estate agencies uncovered

BBC Panorama

Concerns were raised about estate agents at Connells pressuring buyers to use in-house mortgage services and those at Purplebricks overvaluing homes to win business.

2. ‘High risk’ legal services classification not proportionate

Today’s Conveyancer

Our president Richard Atkinson challenged the UK national risk assessment by highlighting the lack of prosecutions for money laundering in the legal sector.

3. Conveyancer banned after forging signatures and misleading Land Registry

The Negotiator

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) issued the ban after finding misuse of the Land Registry portal and falsified documents, with costs of £1,650 also ordered.

4. Chancel repair proposals remove ‘unnecessary’ conveyancing costs

The Law Society Gazette

The Law Commission has unveiled proposed reforms that would clarify the ‘obscure’ law governing chancel repairs and remove ‘unnecessary’ conveyancing costs.

5. 6.5 million UK homeowners have regrets about the home they bought

Homeowners Alliance

New research shows 37% of homeowners regret their purchase – rising to 63% among younger buyers.

6. Rogue housing disrepair lawyers are in the government's sights – but what about councils?

The Law Society Gazette

The government is pressing the SRA to tackle alleged misconduct by bulk litigation firms.

While the legal sector faces scrutiny, there are calls for councils to be held accountable too.

7. UK government moves to protect nightlife

Property Wire

Developers will be responsible for soundproofing their buildings if they choose to build near existing pubs, clubs or music venues, in a principle dubbed ‘Agent of Change’.

8. Developers must take some blame for 30,000-home logjam

Inside Housing

Developers have “played a part” in creating the backlog of homes at the Building Safety Regulator due to the poor quality of their schemes, Dame Judith Hackitt has said.

9. Government launches company to unlock 40,000 homes on railway land

Property Week

Platform4 will sell surplus land and support regeneration, aiming to attract £350m in private investment.

10. ‘Borderline negligent’ housing disrepair solicitors ordered to pay costs

The Law Society Gazette

A law firm was ordered to pay costs in a failed disrepair case, as a council warned of rising ‘no win, no fee’ claims burdening tenants.