The British Government is focussing regulatory efforts on estate agents and their chronic and extensive criminal non-compliance with consumer protection regulations. More aggressive regulatory activity is likely to provoke civil claims for conduct dating back as far as 1998. The majority of long-established residential estate agencies in the UK, including Foxtons (FOXT.L), Countrywide (CWD.L) and LSL Property Services (LSL.L), are exposed to the risk of claims which could, in total, far exceed their net assets.
