New offence will curb crime profits

A new offence of ‘participation in an organised crime group’ can now help ensure professionals who profit from crime can be brought to justice. The new rules, announced in the Queen’s speech on Wednesday, mean they can no longer claim ignorance of their clients’ activities as a defence against prosecution. It could cover anyone who […]

Ripple effect making waves

The long-anticipated ripple effect created by London homeowners selling up and boosting the market in other regions is well underway, according to new research. Londoners have purchased 14,700 homes outside of the capital this year, with an average spend of £330,000 a combined total of almost £5 billion, according to international estate agent, Hamptons. These […]

OneSearch Direct Endorses LenderPanel

OneSearch Direct, the leading provider of data-driven property searches, has endorsed LenderPanel.com.  This is a new, cost-effective, marketing channel for lawyers to reach borrowers at a key decision point in the conveyancing process.  LenderPanel enables borrowers and estate agents to ensure a law firm is approved by the lender prior to the conveyancing process taking […]

ETSOS announces end to Land Registry admin fees

Conveyancing search specialist ETSOS has become the first mainstream search supplier to remove all administration fees from Land Registry products. Suppliers have traditionally added a small margin to products ordered from the Land Registry but ETSOS has now scrapped its 75p charge with immediate effect. Comments Managing Director Phil Natusch, “Although it’s always been a […]

Clients’ stress levels going through the roof

Over recent weeks, The Partnership, one of the fastest  growing residential conveyancing law firms, has found mortgage lenders reassessing their clients’ mortgage application after they have exchanged contracts, leading to delays in completion, introducing high levels of stress and significant additional costs. Since the introduction of the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), The Partnership has a […]

LegalinX-7Side ready for Trekfest Challenge

As the date approaches, LegalinX-7Side colleagues are preparing to take on the massive challenge of a 54 mile walk, known locally as TrekFest 2014. The challenge is to complete the 54 mile route within 24 hours throughout the beautiful Brecon Beacons that run through the centre of South Wales.  The route will be an extreme […]

Lockton's Calum MacLean on Conveyancing Risk

Marketing for conveyancers

Calum MacLean works out of the London and Bristol offices of risk management specialists Locktons. Today’s Conveyancer spoke to Calum about why conveyancing law is a risky business…. How much of your work is with conveyancing solicitors? ‘We work with a wide range of solicitors – currently around 700 firms from sole practitioners right up […]

The digital technology changing the way switchboards operate

Marketing for conveyancers

Telephone answering specialist Moneypenny has introduced a brand new technology product that is changing the way large companies handle incoming calls.   Developed by Moneypenny’s in-house IT team and based on more than 14 years’ experience, Digital Reception offers a world-first in voice recognition (VR) accuracy, enabling companies to employ a full technology solution to […]

Building Society chooses Shakespeares conveyancing

Shakespeares wins major contract with Coventry Building Society Following an intensive tender process, growing Midlands law firm Shakespeares has successfully won renewed and extended contracts with Coventry Building Society’s legal panel to deliver re-mortgaging and conveyancing services. Shakespeares and Coventry Building Society have been working partners for 25 years. Shakespeares partner Paul Saunders said: “This […]

Searchflow Conveyancing Sentiment Survey

SearchFlow, a leading information and data provider for the property transaction market, is today unveiling findings predicting strong sector growth in its second Conveyancer Sentiment Survey. The research showed that confidence is appearing to return to the marketplace with more than half (59%) of conveyancers expecting their business to continue to grow by 10% or […]

SRA important phone numbers change

The SRA will change some important telephone numbers in the first week of June. On Thursday June 5 the Contact Centre, Professional Ethics number and the confidential reporting line Red Alert will replace the 08 at the beginning with 03. A message will play when users attempt to call on the 08 number, advising them […]

CLC publishes financial statement

Marketing for conveyancers

The CLC has published its Financial Statements for 2013 here. The figures indicate that the new Chief Executive Sheila Kumar has put the specialist property law regulator onto a solid financial footing. There were unforeseeable financial burdens on the CLC last year because of an increase in the number and scale of interventions needed to […]

Land Registry to destroy original docs

The Land Registry is changing what documents are needed to change the register of a registered property at the end of June. Original documents will no longer need to be sent, only certified copies of deeds or documents need to be sent with applications either through the post or electronically. If you send an original […]