NEWSbeat
POrtals
Rightmove introduces data quality controls
Old inventory probably does more harm to a website and its reputation than anything else.
The presence of unavailable stock, whether it relates to classified adverts for secondhand cars, flats to rent or, more relevantly here, houses for sale, is the biggest browser turn-off. To combat this, Rightmove
has introduced a series of data quality measures aimed at further improving the accuracy of property listings on its site. The latest round of data quality controls will phase out old properties that are incorrectly left on the site by making certain sales and lettings properties invisible after a set period of time. Commercial Director Miles Shipside (pictured above) says, “Having an accurately updated website plays a key role for us in providing a suitable advertising platform for our member agents and a valued online destination for Rightmove home-movers, so we constantly refine our listing data to ensure our site content is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.” Properties for sale that are
listed as ‘Sold Subject To Contract’, ‘Sold Subject To Concluded Missives’, ‘Under Offer’ or ‘Reserved’ for longer than six months will automatically go invisible, with a notification sent to the agent via email as well as an alert within RightmovePlus. A similar system is also in place for rental properties listed as ‘Let Agreed’ for longer than six weeks.
‘We constantly refine our listing data to ensure our site content is up as up-to- date as possible.’
6 JANUARY 2012 PROPERTYdrum lEGal
Listed property owners flout rules
An Englishman’s home may be his castle but he can’t fiddle with his ramparts without permission – if the building is listed. Despite financial penalties and a possible jail sentence, some property owners are still flouting the rules designed to protect the 374,081(English Heritage) listed buildings in England. Suzanne Bowman, solicitor at Adams & Remers LLP, says that many people who own a listed building will play by the rules and obtain the correct permission from their local authority before they carry out work to the property or to structures within the curtilage, “There are however a number of people who don’t follow the rules and this causes a lot of trouble when they try to sell the property. Estate agents and buying
agents obviously need to be aware of the issues surrounding listed properties when they come up for sale and need to make their clients aware of the listing. “Our advice to buyers who come across a property with illegal works done to it is to take specialist advice,” says Susan. Otherwise they risk the local authority taking
enforcement action against them as the new owners. They could be required to undo the illegal works and restore the property back to the original state, which can cost many thousands.” There are also concerns that some local authorities are not taking the correct enforcement action and this could be an issue that escalates if people think they can bypass the rules and carry out work without listed building consent. Suzanne Bowman
comments, “A recent case I have been dealing with involves works carried out to a substantial listed
property in one of the most prestigious garden
squares in London. The local authority has allowed to remain via a retrospective application the works carried out to the exterior steps in the communal garden but concerns were raised by neighbouring residents. “Part of the problem is that the public are not aware of enforcement action and prosecutions which take place. If a local authority is not seen to be taking action and enforcement it may lead others to think they can carry out illegal works too.”
lEGal
Arrests in £1m SDLT fraud
Four people from Leicester and one from Harrow were arrested in dawn raids in December on suspicion of stealing £1million through a Stamp Duty Land Tax fraud and associated money laundering offences. Two woman aged 36 and 44 and two men aged 37 and 63 in Leicester were arrested, after a residential property and a business premises were searched and another woman, aged 32, originally from Leicester but now living in Harrow, was arrested. The operation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) follows an investigation into the alleged fraudulent non-payment or underpayment of Stamp Duty Land Tax from the Government. Gary Lampon, Assistant Director
of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said, “The arrests are a result of our investigation to disrupt and prevent what is believed to be a major fraud. One of our key priorities is to identify the abuse of our tax systems by dishonest individuals stealing vast amounts of public money for their own gain.”
INsUraNCE
Winter property insurance – free!
Move with Us offers free specialist winter property insurance on all vacant part-
exchange properties it manages on behalf of its developer clients from November until April 2012. Ben Greco, Move with Us
director says, “Builders spent £1000s last year repairing vacant properties damaged by weather issues such as burst pipes. This insurance will ensure our clients have less to worry about this winter. We hope that it helps demonstrate our commitment to our clients.” The policy is held by Move with Us who will handle claims/repairs without impact on the developers’ policies.
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