Spicerhaart to invest £5 million to enhance the future level of service provided by estate agency brand
Estate agency group Spicerhaart is to invest over £5 million as part of a ‘service revolution’ within the haart branch network, reports MyIntroducer.com. The haart estate agency branch network is made up of over 120 outlets, and the investment will form part of the drive to make it the estate agency of choice. There will […]
Legal Services Consumer Panel calls for increase in Legal Ombudsman’s compensation limit
The Legal Service Consumer Panel has issued its response to the Legal Ombudsman Consultation on its scheme rules and case fee structure. The Panel believes that the package of proposals being consulted on would help close redress gaps for consumers. The number of prospective customer complaints would be likely to increase as the jurisdiction […]
House prices see annual growth for first time since April 2011
The LSL Property Services/Academetrics House Price Index for May has been released today. It shows that house prices in England and Wales rose on an annual basis for the first time in 13 months in May, with a monthly increase of 0.5%. The average house price is £223,207. May saw positive movement in nine of […]
Quill Pinpoint announces Lawclient Ltd partnership as the profession prepares for imminent Compliance Officer responsibilities
As the deadline of 31st July for the nominations to the SRA for both a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) draws closer, the legal software provider Quill Pinpoint has announced a partnership with Lawclient Ltd to help practices to prepare for the new compliance challenges. Lawclient […]
Hamilton Bradshaw agrees landmark deal with Knights Solicitors
Hamilton Bradshaw, the Private Equity company owned by former Dragon’s Den investor James Caan, has announced an agreement to invest capital in the Staffordshire based Knights Solicitors, subject to SRA approval. This marks the first private investment in a commercial law firm. Following the investment, Knights aims to become one of the top 100 commercial […]
Report warns of looming housing crisis for over a million young people by 2020.
A report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation this week warns of an escalating housing crisis, which will lock over one million young people out of home ownership by 2020. The report, ‘Housing Options and solutions for young people in 2020’ finds that an extra 1.5 million 18 — 30 year olds will be forced […]
Strong desire for home-ownership remains, but can it be fulfilled?
A new CML research article shows that despite the economic and financial difficulties that have resulted from the credit crunch, 81% of British adults hope to be home-owners in ten years time, with 74% hoping to own a home within two years. Bob Pannell, CML chief economist is the author of the article, which […]
New CML conveyancing instructions for separate representation taking effect from 2nd July
Following extensive consultation and development, the CML has this week issued a new set of instructions for conveyancers acting for lenders under separate representation conveyancing transactions in England and Wales. The new set of instructions are designed to apply when a solicitor of licensed conveyance acts only for a lender in a house purchase […]
May sees Mortgage market return to growth
The mortgage market returned to growth in May following from the slowdown in April caused by the stamp duty exemption deadline, according to the latest Housing Market Activity Report by Connells Survey and Valuation. The total number of residential valuations conducted during May rose by 4% compared to April. This represents an annual increase […]
Conserving our History or Restricting our Future?
As any law student will tell you, the benefit of a restrictive covenant attaches to land and can be enforced by successive owners of that land provided certain well-rehearsed conditions are met. However, section 8 of the National Trust Act 1937 enables the National Trust to enforce restrictive covenants without needing to satisfy the all […]
House sales fall almost forty per cent in five years
The latest RICS Housing Market Survey shows that house sales per surveyor across the UK are almost forty per cent lower than at the peak of the boom five years ago. During May, the average number of completed sales per surveyor was 15.6, compared to 25.4 in May 2007. This shows the extent to which […]
Law Society Excellence Awards are now open for nominations
The Law Society is inviting legal professionals from across England and Wales to enter the Excellence Awards 2012. Now in their sixth year, the awards are firmly established as the leading awards for the profession in the legal calendar. They recognise and reward the most outstanding and dynamic practitioners in the legal profession, and are […]
Land Registry achieves customer satisfaction success
The Land Registry has achieved its best ever customer satisfaction results. During the last three months of 2011/12 the customer satisfaction score for the Land Registry reached 99%, the highest in its history. This brings the overall yearly score to 97 per cent. The customer satisfaction survey is carried out independently by Ipsos Mori every […]
2012 – The year of the neighbour
As thousands of communities have come together for sporting and jubilee events, a new survey reveals that the UK is becoming a more neighbourly nation. The annual HSBC Neighbours Survey, which is published ahead of Neighbourhood Watch Week, reveals that we are having more interactions with the people we live near. Neighbourhood Watch Week this […]
Bellway Plc issue Interim Management Statement
Bellway Plc, part of The Bellway Group, have issued an Interim Management Statement (IMS) for the period 1 February to 31 May 2012. The Group reports that the spring selling season demand has “remained resilient”. Visitor levels and reservation rates are outperforming expectations with reservations averaging 122 per week, giving an increase of 9 per […]
Scottish Government considers replacement for Stamp Duty
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation over the replacement of Stamp Duty Land Tax. The proposals would see it replaced with a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. Finance Secretary John Swinney announced plans for the replacement, and claimed that the new tax would be more progressive and fairer. The change would happen in […]
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks launch fee free mortgage offer
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have launched a fee free mortgage offer beginning today (11 June 2012), which they believe will be a boost for homeowners. The Banks are waiving arrangement fees for customers taking out a new mortgage or switching to Clydesdale or Yorkshire Bank before 14th July 2012. This represents a saving of £999. […]
Law Society of Scotland welcomes proposals for stamp duty changes
The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the proposals made by the Scottish Government, replacing Stamp Duty Land Tax with a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. The Law Society will respond to the 12 week consultation. Powers to create the tax are contained in the Scotland Act 2012. This Act also allows the Scottish Government […]
Legal Services Board finds consumer need for tailored internet support
The Legal Services Board has published its final report ‘Understanding consumer needs from legal information sources’. The report was commissioned to look at the types of information consumers would like to help them address the legal issues they face, and how the internet can provide support. The research found that consumer confidence around engaging with […]
SLC announces new additions to its board
As it embraces one of the most significant years in its existence, the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced the appointment of two new members to its board. With the official launch of its new lender panel proposition SLC Quality Assured (SLCQA) imminent, the Society has been working tirelessly with the lending community as […]
