Cunningtons voted Winners in Negotiator Magazine and Property Drum Awards 2012
Cunnington Solicitors have been voted Winners in Negotiator Magazine and Property Drum Awards 2012 in the Business to Business Conveyancing and Legal Support Services category, as voted by estate agents. Justin White, Sales Director commented: “Firstly a big thank you to all the agents that have voted for us. At Cunningtons working together with Estate […]
Surveyors Association announces new Chairman to drive plans for growth
The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has today announced that Alan Milstein has been appointed the new Chairman, to lead its future plans for growth. Alan Milstein is a qualified surveyor and owner of CHIPS Surveyors Ltd, which is a specialist residential surveying business. He will take the post of Chairman with immediate effect. […]
SRA to consult on referrals to independent financial advisers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is planning to launch a consultation on the requirement for solicitors to refer their clients to an independent financial adviser for investment advice, Money Marketing reports. The SRA is meeting on 4th July and will discuss the Financial Services Authority definition of independence and what type of adviser solicitors will […]
My Home Move returns to profit
My Home Move Ltd has reported a profit for the financial year to December 31 2011 marking a return to profit following 2010. The Directors’ report and financial statements announced a profit of £994,000, which shows that the company has bounced back from 2010 where a loss of £980,000 was reported. The report highlights […]
Wave of large commercial firms joining CQS
The Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme is growing as twelve of the largest commercial firms have been accredited. This marks a wave of large commercial firms undergoing the process for accreditation. The scheme has the support of the CML, Land Registry, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers. Accreditation marks […]
Law Society to support solicitors’ request for insurance broker commission details
The Law Society today publishes its 2012 PII Buyers’ Guide, which provides detailed guidance to all solicitors in choosing brokers and insurers when renewing their professional indemnity insurance cover. This Guide will be invaluable to solicitors at renewal time. The 2012 Guide has a particular focus on the relationship between solicitors and the intermediaries they […]
UK house prices edge up by 0.3% in May say Nationwide
The Nationwide House Price Index has been released today. It shows that the price of a typical house rose by 0.3% in May, with the average house price now £166,022. Prices are 0.7% lower than the same time last year. Robert Gardner, Nationwide Chief Economist commented: “The Nationwide House Price Index has reached […]
20% increase in 20 to 34 year olds living at home since 1997
Research by the Office of National Statistics reveals that the number of people aged 20 to 34 years living with a parent or parents rose to nearly three million in 2011. This is an increase of half a million since 1997, and represents a 20% rise. The number of people in this age group has […]
Lending to Individuals increases by £1.4 billion in April, say Bank of England
Mortgage lending has remained static over the last six months, according to figures released by the Bank of England today. The Lending to Individuals statistical release shows that total lending to individuals increased in April 2012 by £1.4 billion. Lending secured on dwellings rose by £1.1 billion, which is in line with the six month […]
BSA sees mortgage lending by building societies and mutuals rise 23%
Gross mortgage lending by building societies and mutual lenders increased by 23% in April 2012 compared with the same month last year, figures released by the Building Societies Association today. In the first four months of 2012 lending rose by 36% compared to the first four months of 2011. Mortgage approvals by mutuals were […]
Oyez launches the most comprehensive information security research survey for law firms
Oyez launches the most comprehensive information security research survey for law firms As the security of confidential information moves to the fore and compliance with regulation becomes more complex, it’s important for the profession to know that it is doing all it can to comply. Oyez is currently conducting a comprehensive survey, the first of […]
Winzest Consulting launches to provide extra support to legal firms to deliver better outcomes to consumers
Winzest Consulting has today announced the launch of its regulatory compliance consulting services to legal service providers. It will be led by Victor Olowe who was formerly Chief Executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). Victor Olowe explains the thinking behind Winzest Consulting: “The launch of Winzest consulting is informed by the experiences […]
A decade of the CON29 Drainage and Water Enquiry: clearly essential
The CON29DW is an essential part of the conveyancing process, as the official drainage and water search and 2012 marks its 10th anniversary. The search provides potentially deal-breaking information on water and sewerage infrastructure for prospective property purchasers, protecting them and their advisors from unnecessary risk with a clear trail of responsibility back to the […]
New Property law firm hopes to win ‘Young Business of the Year’
Thomas Legal Group, a niche property firm in the Cotswolds and central London has entered the ‘Young Business of the Year’ category for the Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo 2012 Business Awards. The firm has grown over recent years and works in a market which is primarily business to business. They have worked extremely hard to […]
Davis Gregory becomes latest firm to join CQS
Cheltenham law firm Davis Gregory has become the latest firm to be accredited with Quality Conveyancing Scheme (CQS) membership by the Law Society. CQS is a mark of excellence, and provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. Davis Gregory has become the 1458th firm to join the scheme, with 875 branches. A total […]
Land Registry figures show house prices fell 0.3% in April
Figures released by the Land Registry today show that house prices fell by 0.3% in April, as the average house in England and Wales costs £160,417. This represents an annual fall of 1.0%. When looking at the regions, London is the area with the biggest increase in prices. House prices here rose by 5.1% […]
SRA Board decides on Financial Protection Policy
The Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided to make a number of changes to its Financial Protection Policy, as part of its annual review process. The Board met on Wednesday 16 May, when it agreed to make changes to the Qualifying Insurer’s Agreement and to the rules within the Client Protection section […]
15 Solicitors sanctioned for failing to pay insurance premiums
Fifteen solicitors have had sanctions imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for failing to pay insurance premiums while their firms were in the assigned risks pool, reports Legal Futures. Five principals have been suspended indefinitely by the SDT. The Tribunal recommended that the suspensions should not be lifted until full payment of the outstanding premiums […]
FSA approves first regulated residential property fund
Hearthstone Investments, the specialist residential fund manager, has received FSA approval to launch the UK’s first regulated residential property fund. The TM Hearthstone UK Residential Property Fund is due to soft launch this summer. A full roll-out is planned for September 2012. This will give investors for the first time access to a £4trn […]
Plainlaw becomes sixth ABS to be licensed by SRA
A property law firm based in Oxfordshire has become the sixth alternative business structure to be licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Plainlaw is a firm which specialises in the areas of property, housing and construction law. There are three partners, Philip Horn, Michael Horn and a corporate entity, Plainlaw.biz Ltd. The senior partner is […]
