SRA warning: attorney.ronaldfletchere@kimo.com and Fletcherronald@kimo.com
The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent purportedly from Ronald Fletcher of Ronald Fletcher & Co Solicitors from email addresses attorney.ronaldfletchere@kimo.com and Fletcherronald@kimo.com relating to obtaining the benefit of an abandoned investment. These email addresses and mobile telephone numbers 07031 860 989 and 07035 960 445 are not legitimate contact details for […]
Consumers expecting to be refused mortgages
The Building Societies Association’s (BSA) quarterly Property Tracker has shown that whilst the availability of mortgage finance has improved, consumers are still expecting to be refused finance. The survey of 2000 consumers showed that access to mortgage finance is one of the largest barriers to property purchase. However 46 per cent said it was a […]
Record August for firm
Move with Us has reported its completions rose 21% during August, compared to the same period last year. Ian Fletcher, Director at Move with Us said: “We are proud to have helped our agents to the record month they experienced. “It’s down to the estate agents we work with as well as the team here […]
Bad August for mortgage market
The latest Mortgage Monitor, produced by e.surv chartered surveyors has found house purchase loans fell to the third worst August figure for 20 years. Only 2008 and 2010 saw lower lending levels and August marked the third consecutive month of falls on an annual basis. The mortgage market moved back towards 2010 levels with the […]
New London based conveyancing business
In-Deed Online plc. has announced the launch of Lewis & Thomas. Lewis & Thomas will deliver conveyancing services for customers within the M25, specialising in the London market. In-Deed’s chairman Harry Hill said: “A year ago, we stated our ambition to build a leading UK conveyancing business. Lewis & Thomas is an exciting step in this […]
New agency to tackle fraud
The National Crime Agency (NCA) will be the part of the government’s crack down on fraud. The move was announced at the Conveyancing Association’s quarterly meeting last week. The National Fraud Authority (NFA), explained the NCA will be an integrated intelligence sharing system covering both public and private sectors. This will focus police and law […]
House prices rise unexpectedly
House prices in August bucked the usual seasonal trend to bounce back by 2.5%. The increase is thought to be down to a resurgence following dented activity earlier in the year. Richard Sexton, director of e.surv chartered surveyors, said: “The housing market demonstrated its resilience in August, as both house prices and sales activity rose, […]
Consumers expect flood investigation
A survey by Landmark Information Group has shown 55% of UK property owners expect flood risk investigation to be part of the conveyancing process. The survey revealed 80% of UK homeowners would not buy a house that had a flood risk. Despite it being such an important only 42% of people investigated their flood risk […]
SRA offers to help struggling firms
During the SRA’s nine-month pilot study last year they identified that a quarter of firms showed evidence of financial instability. The SRA is urging these firms to contact them for support and advice. They are already getting in touch with practices that may need help as part of the regulator’s new approach under outcomes-focused regulation. […]
Equity Release changes
The Equity Release Solicitors Alliance (ERSA) and its seven individual member firms will become part of the Equity Release Council. In May the Equity Release Council announced it was looking to widen its remit to represent all interested parties involved in equity release including advisers, providers, solicitors, and surveyors. The ERSSA will contribute to the […]
Estate agency red tape cut
Two key changes have been made to regulations governing estate agents as part of a government initiative to cut red tape. The Estate Agents Act is to be amended whilst the Property Misdescriptions Act will be removed. Under the amendment to the Estate Agents Act businesses hosting private property sales advertisements, without getting involved in […]
Buyers needing help to raise deposits
SmartNewHomes is calling on the government to continue support of schemes such as NewBuy as buyers continue to struggle to raise deposits. The launch of the government guaranteed NewBuy scheme saw buyer registrations on the website increase 101% compared to the previous week. Many first time buyers are lacking the cash for a deposit and […]
Sep Rep decision from Irish Law Society
The Irish Law Society has passed a regulation prohibiting solicitors acting for both vendor and purchaser in conveyancing transactions (including voluntary transactions), with effect from 1st January, 2013. President Donald Binchy has written to members to inform them of this mornings decision. The decision followed the Council’s third lengthy debate on the issue where all […]
Its conveyancing but not as we know it Jim …
So — the SRA are looking this week at how they can contain the continuing damage which conveyancing is doing not only to PI Insurers but to the reputation of the profession.. I wonder why anyone in their right mind is still doing conveyancing out there sometimes. It seems that we are being hit by […]
RICS points to stable August
The August RICS Housing Market Report showed little change from the previous month’s survey. There was stability across all seasonally adjusted key indicators pointing to a broadly flat trend in prices at national level. The proportion of respondents to the survey that felt prices were unchanged (in the three months to August) went up from […]
Did the Olympics dent the valuations market?
According to the latest Housing Market Activity report from Connells Survey & Valuation the number of valuations held up well during August. There is typically a seasonal dip in August, but despite a 10% dip from July valuations were up 1% from August 2011. John Bagshaw, Corporate Services Director of Connells Survey & Valuation, said: […]
SRA supervision results
As part of the SRA’s new outcomes focused approach, a pilot supervision project ran from January to September last year. The project focussed on over 100 firms of various sizes across the country and has shown positive feedback from the profession. The aim of the pilot was to test, define and develop the new approach to particular […]
Is social media important for conveyancers?
With less than a third of all conveyancers having both Twitter and Facebook pages, how important is social media to firms? Today’s Conveyancer has carried out a survey of the top 100 conveyancers, as per the Land Registry Applications Data for July 2012. We found that 54% of firms have Twitter pages whilst 40% have […]
New standards board
The Property Surveyors Standards Board (PSSB) will regulate the Home Condition Survey (HCS) and develop associated products. The PSSB as a result of collaboration between the SAVA (Surveyor and Valuers Accreditation), BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and the RPSA (the Residential Property Surveyors Association), who are all involved with the Home Condition Survey (HCS). The […]
Law Society calls for lending panel solution
The Society has called on Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable to support a long term solution to issues surrounding the composition of panels. In a letter to members Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said that he recognised the reasons driving lenders to change the composition of their panels, such as the FSA […]
