At OneSearch, we believe that exceptional customer service is at the heart of every successful business. As we celebrate National Customer Service Week (NCSW) this week, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to delivering first-class customer experiences.

Great customer service is more than just a buzzword for us – it’s a core principle that drives everything we do. We are committed to continuously improving our services, processes, and communication to better meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.

As a testament to our dedication to excellence, we are thrilled to share that we are active members of the Institute of Customer Service. This membership reflects our commitment to putting our customers at the centre of our business, as well as staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends, best practices, and customer service innovations. It also connects us with a community of like-minded businesses striving to raise the bar for customer service standards.

Customer Service Manager Carol Dodd said: “National Customer Service Week is a time to celebrate our commitment to excellence; for us, exceptional customer service isn’t limited to one week, it’s a daily commitment. Our team is dedicated to going above and beyond to meet our customers’ needs, and we take immense pride in being members of the Institute of Customer Service.”

As OneSearch celebrate over 30 years in the industry, our company vision remains as resolute as ever: offer reliability, impact, and excellence to our customers and partners within the property industry.

The Q2 2023 edition of Landmark’s Residential Property Trends Report is now live. Within the report, you’ll find the latest insights into the residential property transaction pipeline from listings to SSTC/SSTM, and from searches to completions. 

The report found that whilst supply is relatively strong, demand volumes are struggling to progress through the transactional pipeline.   

Headlines from Q2 include:
•    Supply is up in England and Wales – with listings 12% higher in June ’23 vs June ‘19
•    Completions dropped in England and Wales in Q2 ’23 – 39% lower than Q2 ‘19
•    In Scotland, the picture is marginally better but buyers are similarly constrained  
•    Overall, demand volumes struggle to progress across Great Britain as high interest rates, restricted mortgage availability and squeezed affordability continue to drive an uncertain market.

This survey and guide reveals how a desire for more information about climate and the environment may start changing residential conveyancing processes. 

The transition to Net Zero is a long term goal, but it’s clear home movers are factoring climate change into their decisions now. Our parent company Landmark’s survey shows there’s already a desire for more data, earlier in the process. It’s a revealing snapshot.

Download the guide to find out:

1. Residential conveyancers views on who is responsible for advising on climate change 
2. The percentage of home movers prepared to invest in energy efficiency measures 
3. How agents and conveyancers are handling the need for a Net Zero strategy
4. What percentage of firms are reporting on future climate change risks to their clients 

Residential estate agents and conveyancers are trusted to source the right information at the right time. This survey shows that many firms want more guidance from authoritative organisations on the provision of climate change information to home movers.   

Landmark Information Group provides climate data to colleagues working in every part of the property industry’s value chain. Our work includes surveys and reports like this one, surfacing insights on subjects such as Climate Change, Digital Transformation, and the Home Mover Experience.  

Download the guide, understand colleagues’ views on reporting around climate change and information exchange with vendors and purchasers.  

Complete the form, we’ll send our guide – View on Climate Change Information in Residential Conveyancing – straight to your in-box. 

Our parent company Landmark have released their Residential Conveyancing and Home Movers’ experiences in 2022 guide, revealing the experiences from both sides of the conveyancing landscape.

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Within the guide, you can discover:  

• The four biggest causes of delays for residential conveyancers  
• Which changes would improve the buying experience most  
• Levels of buyer-concern around problems arising post-purchase  
• The extent to which recruitment is still a challenge in the industry 

Japanese Knotweed has become something of a legend in UK property; part horticulture, part horror story. Its roots can disrupt paving and outbuildings, but the real power of knotweed is the fear it strikes in buyers, lenders and valuers.

And with recent changes to the TA6 Property Information Form and updated RICS guidance, this is one red flag every property professional needs to understand clearly.
Let’s get you up to speed in five minutes.

Why knotweed still matters

Knotweed spreads quickly through tiny fragments of rhizome – a piece the size of your little fingernail can create a whole new plant. While it rarely damages homes directly, it can affect outbuildings, hard landscaping, retaining walls and drainage.

More importantly: it affects lender confidence.

Most banks don’t want to finance a property where the risk hasn’t been assessed properly or managed professionally.

So yes – it’s a plant. But in conveyancing terms, it behaves more like a compliance issue.

The TA6 Trap (and what’s changed)

For years, sellers avoided giving a straight answer by ticking “Not Known” on the TA6, but that’s now over. The updated TA6 form now expects clearer disclosure around Japanese Knotweed – not speculation, but an honest statement based on what the seller reasonably knows.

Meaning:

• “Not Known” is no longer the easy escape route.
• A false declaration can expose sellers to misrepresentation claims.

If a seller has had knotweed in the past, had treatment, or knows of an infestation nearby, this is the moment it needs declaring.

The 7‑Metre Myth is gone

For years, we all lived by the “7‑metre rule” – if knotweed was within seven metres of a structure, lenders panicked. Then RICS rewrote the guidance. Now valuers are expected to look at:

• The extent and location of the knotweed
• Whether it’s managed or unmanaged
• Whether it presents a material risk to the property
• Whether it affects use, enjoyment or value

In short: the distance matters far less than the context.

Management is the new eradication

A decade ago, everything was about “total eradication.” The industry now recognises that knotweed can be managed effectively through long-term treatment plans. A good management plan usually includes:

• A site survey
• A multi‑year herbicide programme
• A guarantee
• Photographic records
• Insurance backing

Lenders want to see commitment and structure, not wishful thinking.

So, what do buyers actually need to know?

• Knotweed isn’t the catastrophe many tabloids painted it to be – if managed well.
• Professional treatment stabilises value and unlocks lending.
• Buyers shouldn’t panic, but they should insist on paperwork.
• Indemnity insurance can help, but only if the seller hasn’t contacted neighbours or raised awareness prematurely (easy mistake, costly consequence).
• Future liability sits with whoever owns the land now, not who planted it 20 years ago.

Handled early and transparently, knotweed becomes a manageable risk, not a deal‑breaker.

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Japanese Knotweed is only a nightmare when it’s ignored. When it’s managed properly – with a clear plan, good documentation and open communication – most sales can progress smoothly.

Think of it as the conveyancing equivalent of seeing a warning light on a dashboard: Scary at first… but often an easy fix once you know what’s going on under the hood.