PROPERTY QUORUM: “E-signatures: Isolated Fraud or the Tip of an Iceberg?
Join us for the Property Quorum Podcast, airing at 10 a.m. today.
Hosting this discussion is Gareth Wax, our producer and director, alongside our regular panel of property experts: Juliet Baboolal, property lawyer; Chris Gilsenan, investor and developer; and Hamish McLay, conveyancing collaborator.
While our contributors may be familiar voices, this week’s topic is anything but routine. A recent spike in reported fraud cases has raised concerns in the property sector. And with the government’s increasing pressure to accelerate planning permissions, there is a risk that due diligence is being overlooked in the name of speed.
Take Oxfordshire, for example. Projects previously stalled due to legitimate concerns are now being rushed through. While some developers claim delays are the work of so-called NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard objectors), objections often highlight serious legal, environmental, or financial risks that deserve scrutiny.
This month alone, cases of fraudulent e-signatures have surfaced, making lenders increasingly cautious. In one instance, a bank refused loans on a block of flats after discovering fraudulent signatures on key documents.
Elsewhere, properties have been signed off without necessary remedial work—huge sums charged, yet no action taken. Even more concerning, some developers have been alerted to these issues yet have chosen to turn a blind eye.
This latest wave of fraud, coupled with the well-documented cladding scandals, raises a pressing question: who can we trust?
Don’t miss this episode of Property Quorum—a direct discussion on the reality behind e-signature fraud, the impact of fast-tracked planning permissions, and the implications for homeowners, investors, and industry professionals alike.
The podcast is recorded, so if you miss the live session, you can listen back at your convenience.
Tune in, comment live, and join the conversation. Are we dealing with a few bad apples, or is this a much bigger problem brewing beneath the surface?
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