Landlords respond to surge in tenant demand with positive outlook on rental market
Figures have been released following a sentiment survey of over 1,100 landlords, which has been conducted by Your Move and Reeds Rains. Many are predicting a positive outlook within the rental market over the next year, with over a fifth of landlords seeking to expand their property portfolios. Over the last 6 months, 41% of […]
Gas Access Campaign passes 1 million homes milestone
A campaign to change the law and make it easier for housing providers to protect people in their homes has reached the one million mark. Social housing providers collectively owning more than one million properties have thrown their weight behind the Gas Access campaign aimed at making it easier to access homes to check gas […]
Conveyancer Slater – Tweet of the Week
I called a conveyancer to ask him some questions and he was unbelievably rude. I hope he steps on some pointy imitation Lego. – Rachy/Doodle (@RachyVool) October 9, 2014
Rental property supply & demand dilemma worsens
Sequence, one of the UK’s leading letting agencies, has released their latest findings on the current state of the rental market. The group has discovered there are almost 7 prospective tenants to each property that is currently available to let. The amount of consumers looking to rent had seen an increase of 17% during 2014, […]
Firm receive maximum penalty for £2.5 million stamp duty avoidance schemes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have fined leading law firm, Mundays, after it was found to be using stamp duty land tax (SDLT) avoidance schemes to save their clients over £2.5 million. The firm based in Cobham, Surrey was not charging clients for this service and promoters of the scheme were able to bill over […]
Blacks launch ‘Blacks Affinity’ for integration with IRESS Trigold Prospector (Topic of the Month – Technology)
Broker-focused conveyancer, Blacks Connect, has today (9th October 2014) announced the launch of a new proposition, Blacks Affinity, a conveyancing quotation system which will be instantly available to users of the IRESS Trigold Prospector mortgage sourcing system. From today, mortgage advisers using IRESS Trigold Prospector to source a range of mortgages for an individual client can […]
“If Opportunity doesn’t Knock, Build a Door.” ~ Milton Berle
Lots of opportunities come knocking if we are receptive (i.e. we have built a door). The trick is to recognise them (i.e. hear the knock). Then you have to decide whether or not to open the door. I got my first business opportunity as a result of a charity function in 1982. Back then there […]
House purchase approvals recover in September
Monthly house purchase approvals rise 2.0% between August and September to 65,500 However, on an annual basis house purchase approvals fall back 1.8% from September 2013 11,600 higher LTV loans approvals in September, second highest since June 2008 South West & Wales overtakes London to have greatest share of UK mortgage approvals House purchase approvals […]
PSG Sponsor the Modern Law Awards
PSG are pleased to sponsor the Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards which will take place on the 15th October at the London Hilton. The awards ceremony, now in its second year, will be hosted by writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth and will feature a wide scope of categories judged by an expert panel. Set up […]
ETSOS shortlisted for top legal industry award
ETSOS has announced it has been shortlisted for this year’s Modern Law Awards. It will battle it out with four other suppliers in the Supporting the Industry category at the awards ceremony to be held on 15th October at The London Hilton, Park Lane. Managing director Phil Natusch comments: "This is the first time we’ve […]
Charging capital gains tax on main homes – do you agree?
Leading housing expert and British economist, Kate Barker claims charging capital gains tax (CGT) on the nation’s main residencies would be an effective strategy to tackle the housing shortage and give equal access to property ownership. The former member of the Bank of England monetary policy committee says this controversial taxing system would not only […]
Lawyer Checker scoops top award at Cheshire Business Awards!
Last Friday saw a glittering gathering of Cheshire’s booming Businesses in the grand setting of Chester Cathedral’s nave. With Granada’s Lucy Meacock as Host, the ceremony got off to a flying start with the team at Lawyer Checker winning the first award of the night! Presenting the award to Chris Harris, MD, was Chester and […]
Gas Access Campaign gives people chance to send message direct to Westminster
Supporters of a campaign aimed at making it easier for housing providers to protect their tenants are being urged to make their voices heard in the corridors of power. The Gas Access campaign has set up an on-line petition which will make it easier for social landlords, their tenants and other interested groups to demonstrate […]
Devon school forced to close after discovery of soil contamination
A school in Totnes, South Devon was forced to close after contamination was discovered during a large renovation project undertaken over the summer holidays. Contaminated soil and perched groundwater was found during the excavation works to build new classrooms and teaching facilities. So where did this contamination come from? Grove School is located at the […]
A reconstructed conveyancing practice (Topic of the Month – Technology)
Traditionally, payment for conveyancing services has always focused on fixed fees, never having any roots in time recording. This has been the basis on which the noisy neighbours in the litigation department have billed for their time. This tradition has made it difficult for many of those involved in the financial management of conveyancing businesses, […]
Is property a sound investment for retirement?
Consumer research carried out by Baring Asset Management has reported an increased number of home owners within the UK will be using property to fund their retirement. In the 2014 report, around 2.5 million non-retired people, or 7% of those surveyed, say they plan to use the assets from their main home for their retirement […]
Accord Buy To Let introduces new incentives as part of LMS partnership
One of the UK’s leading conveyancing panel management specialists, LMS has announced the beginning of a partnership with Accord Buy to Let. The purpose of this latest venture is to allow LMS to assist Accord improve their service offering. Whilst continuing to provide superior service to the intermediary market, Accord will now be able to […]
Hilary Benn discusses Labour’s plans to resolve UK housing crisis
Having heard the intentions of the political parties during the conferences over the past couple of weeks, it’s intriguing to see the proposed efforts to improve the face of the property market and aid the UK’s recovery from the housing crisis. The main points raised during the Labour Party Conference were given by Shadow Secretary […]
Brand new look for Moneypenny
Telephone answering specialist Moneypenny – supporting more than 900 legal firms across the UK and endorsed by the Law Society, has unveiled a brand new look with a face-lifted logo incorporating a new addition — the Moneypenny bird — Tully. The brand refresh has been launched to tie in with the development of a new […]
HomeOwners Alliance respond to the latest stamp duty figures
Earlier this week, the Government released a report on UK Stamp Tax Statistics for 2013/14. It has revealed the overall takings for stamp duty have increased by 35% compared to the previous year. Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, says these latest figures highlight how the main purpose of stamp duty seems to […]