Resources & useful links

“…….being able to find the right information at the right place saves so much time”

We have compiled below a list of useful resources to help you research and navigate the property sector.

PROPERTY SEARCH SITES

LAW

  • CLC – The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is the legal regulatory body for Licensed Conveyancers in England and Wales. A Licensed Conveyancer is a specialist property lawyer and Commissioner of Oaths qualified in all aspects of property law in England and Wales.
  • Law Society – The Law Society the independent professional body for solicitors in England and Wales run by and for solicitors.
  • SRA – The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulate all solicitors and most law firms in England and Wales. They protect and help the public by ensuring solicitors and law firms meet our high standards. They take action against solicitors who don’t follow the rules.
  • The Bar Council – The Bar Council is the professional and regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales.
  • The Leasehold Advisory Service – The Leasehold Advisory Service is a government funded, free independent advice for residential leaseholders and park home. All advisers are legally qualified.
  • HM Land Registry – HM Land Registry (HMLR) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty’s Government, created in 1862 to register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. It safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion, enabling over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property. The Land Register contains more than 26 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 88% of the land mass of England and Wales.
  • First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) – The Court which handle applications, appeals and references relating to disputes over property and land e.g. rent increases for ‘fair’ or ‘market’ rates, leasehold disputes, leasehold enfranchisement etc. Also, handles Land registration matters such as disputes over a change to the land register, applications to correct or cancel certain documents relating to registered land etc.

FINANCE

DESIGN & BUILD ENVIROMENT

  • RICS -The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveys (RICS). This is the highest globally recognised property professional body, designed to effect positive change in the built and natural environments. It sets the key standards which our professionals work to in the construction and infrastructure sectors. The ‘Black Book’ is a collection of technical practice documents which covers all processes throughout the construction project life cycle. The documents are essential development tools and useful guides to best practice for more experienced professionals.
  • CIOB – The Chartered Institute of Building is the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. The CIOB is the most influential professional body for construction management and leadership, with around 50,000 members in more than 100 countries. 
  • RIBA – The Royal Institute of British Architects is a global professional membership body driving excellence in architecture. 
  • ARB – The Architects Board is an independent professional regulator, established by Parliament as a statutory body, through the Architects Act, in 1997. They are accountable to government and the law gives them a number of core functions such as ensuring only suitably competent architects are allowed to practise and approving the architecture qualifications required to join the Register of architects. Also, maintain a publicly available Register of architects so the public can be confident that they are suitably qualified and are fit to practise. To set standards of conduct and practice, protect the legally restricted title ‘architect’ etc.
  • The Planning Portal – The highly regarded Planning Portal application service works in partnership with every local authority across England and Wales.  It has transformed the planning process, making information and services simpler and more accessible for those involved in the process, be that applicants, agents or local authorities. They focus on delivering a quality service for planning and building regulations information and the national planning application service.
  • RTPI – The Royal Town Planning Institute is an international professional body for town planners with over 27,000 members in 88 countries responsible for maintaining professional standards and accrediting world class planning courses both in the UK and internationally.
  • Gas Safety Register – Gas Safe Register is the only official gas registration body of gas businesses and engineers in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. By law all gas businesses must be on the Gas Safe Register. Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the only gas registration body in Great Britain and Isle of Man on 1 April 2009 and in Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1 April 2010.
  • NICEIC – The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)  is the UK’s leading certification body for the electrical contracting industry and wider building services sector. NICEIC-registered tradespeople provide experienced and quality work, ensuring that all jobs are done to the highest standard.
  • FENSA – FENSA is a government-authorised scheme that monitors building regulation compliance for replacement windows and doors. The purpose of the FENSA Schemes is to allow approved persons to self-certify the compliance of controlled work in buildings that are subject to the applicable Building Regulations in England, Wales, Scotland and Jersey. This process removes the need to seek approval from Building Control before work starts. A person operating under an approved Competent Person Scheme has a duty to comply with all aspects of the Building Regulations, not just the core aspects of the work being undertaken. Every FENSA Approved Installer is assessed regularly to ensure standards are continually maintained.

ANCILLARY PROPERTY SERVICES

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATORY BODIES

  • The Property Ombudsman – One of two government redress schemes all estate agents and letting agents must join under the law. If a customer has a complaint about and estate agents or letting agents service that you cannot resolve between yourselves, they can complain to the scheme.
  • The Property Redress Scheme – One of two government redress schemes all estate agents and letting agents must join under the law. Failure results in a £5000 fine.
  • Tenancy Deposit Scheme – If a customer has a complaint about and estate agents or letting agents service that you cannot resolve between yourselves, they can complain to the scheme.
  • Deposit protection schemes and landlords – You must place your tenants’ deposit in a tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme if you rent out your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007.
  • ICO – The Information Commissioner’s Office(ICO) is the UK’s independent body set up to uphold information rights.
  • National Trading Standards – The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team protects consumers and businesses by enforcing the Estate Agents Act (1979) and the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
  • Funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
  • Council Tax bands – Check your council tax band.
  • EPC – Check the Energy Performance Certificate for your Property.

PROFESSIONAL & REGULATORY BODIES IN PROPERTY INDUSTRY

  • RICS – The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveys (RICS). This is the highest globally recognised property professional body, designed to effect positive change in the built and natural environments. The gold standard qualification all property professionals aspire to reach. What does RICS memberships means? Status – Professional credentials provide unrivalled client and market confidence. Recognition – Promotion of members professional excellence to governments and markets. Market advantage – RICS status and standards give members a competitive advantage. Knowledge – Internationally recognised practice standards, professional guidance, CPD and knowledge sharing. Network – Access to 134,000 RICS professionals worldwide
  • IRPM – The Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) is the professional body for residential property management specialists. It sets the professional standards in the management of residential property in the UK, provide professionals with independent accreditation and to be the trusted source of expertise, knowledge, and qualifications, in the residential property sector. IRPM is an authoritative and trusted voice with Government and stakeholders as an unbiased speaker of truth to power.
  • TPI– The Boards of The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) and The Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) proposed a merger of the two organisations in 2021 to form “The Property Institute”. It represents and upholds the ‘gold standard’ for professional practitioners and firms within the industry and will provide enhanced support for its combined membership and create a stronger, unified voice for the property management sector, as it takes centre stage at a time of unprecedented change in public policy.
  • Property Mark – The “Propertymark” is the leading membership body for property agents with over 17,500 members. This includes estate agents, letting agents, valuers and auctioneers, commercial agents and inventory clerks. By using a Propertymark Protected member you are guaranteed to be consulting with a professional who will give you up-to-date advice and guidance.