Home Owners Alliance call for changes to "dangerously flawed" Stamp Duty reforms
The HomeOwners Alliance have called for Stamp Duty reforms to be changed, saying they are “dangerously flawed” and could well backfire. While the consumer group supports the policy in principle the group have pointed out that the complexity of the new regime could result in lost sales as the surcharge is applied for a number […]
Cyber insurance & social engineering loss
Cyber security has become an increasingly important discussion point for those responsible for managing risk within legal service providers over the past twelve months. With more and more publicity surrounding the vulnerability of technology, risk averse firms are increasingly resorting to cyber liability mitigation and insurance products as a key component of their risk management […]
tmgroup responds to The Law Society’s The Future of Legal Services report
The Law Society has predicted that law firms will be employing fewer solicitors by 2020, with the evolution & increased implementation of technology in the legal sector the driving force behind this change. This is just one of a series of predictions made by the Law Society in their new report on the future of […]
tmgroup announce unique time-saving conveyancing portfolio tool
tmgroup have announced the launch of a unique new time-saving tool for conveyancers, specially designed for undertaking bulk orders of title information across a portfolio of properties. The unique register extract tool takes all of the addresses in a portfolio, returns the title numbers and orders the relevant Official Copies from Land Registry (LR), returning […]
Half of conveyancing firms could be using out of date software, says Redbrick
Up to half of conveyancing firms could be losing out on efficiencies by using outdated software, according to Martin MacDuff, Managing Director at Redbrick Solutions. While Redbrick software is licensed per transaction with smaller setup costs, firms who have invested large amounts in practice management software may be reluctant to spend more money on updated […]
CML lenders handbook updated
The Council of Mortgage Lenders have updated their handbook from 1st February. The update is to clause 10 of the Lenders’ Handbook is “designed to reflect the introduction of a requirement, as the result of the Mortgage Credit Directive, for mortgage customers to have a ‘reflection period’, of at least seven days before accepting a […]
Convey Law look to expand staff with 25 new trainee conveyancer openings
Specialist conveyancing firm, South Wales-based Convey Law are set to expand with openings for 25 recent law graduates and paralegals looking to become conveyancers. The Newport-based company was recently voted “one to watch” in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For in 2015 and also recently received the Gold Investors In People accreditation. The […]
Price rises accelerate despite winter slowdown
House prices increased 1.2% from November to December according to Land Registry’s House Prices Index (HPI). This marks an acceleration from November’s month-to-month increase of 0.4%. The rise puts the average house price in England and Wales at £188,270, up 6.4% on twelve months ago. Regionally, prices in the capital rose fastest, up 2.1% and […]
Law Society sets out five year vision for Legal Services
The Law Society has published a report outlining how it sees the legal profession changing between now and 2021. The report titled “The Future of Legal Services” outlines five drivers of change: global and national economic developments; how the public and corporate clients buy services; technology and process innovation; new entrants and wider political agendas. […]
Fewer first time buyers in December despite falling prices
The number of first time buyers (FTBs) picking up keys fell in December compared with November despite average prices coming down by 0.5%. In total there were 1,300 fewer FTBs in December, a drop of 4.7% on November as the Christmas slowdown took effect. However according to information published by Reeds Rains and YourMove the […]
PSG clients express delight in new ordering platform
On Monday 11th January PSG launched their new web site and ordering platform. Two weeks on and the feedback from clients has been fantastic. Stephen Murray, Business Development Director at PSG spoke of the reactions of customers to the new platform: “The real test of a successful product launch is the feedback you get from your […]
Target for housebuilding missed by nearly 25%
7% more houses were built in 2015 compared with 2014 but totals are still well below government targets for housebuilding, according to the National House Building Council (NHBC) In total, 156,140 new homes were registered last year according to the NHBC’s annual statistics, far short of the overnment’s own 200,000 target. Despite rocketing property prices […]
New partnership provides risk assessment solution to tackle UK’s ground instability
Terrafirma Mine Searches Ltd (Terrafirma) and Geoterra Ltd have announced a new partnership to extend their mine and mineral extraction search and investigation services to the UK’s property and construction sectors. Terrafirma, experts in mine and mineral extraction search reporting and Geoterra, industry leaders in subsurface laser scanning surveys of voids, cavities and sink holes, […]
Conveyancing cybercrime – Are you as safe as houses?
Cybercrime among conveyancing transactions is on the rise, with fraudsters using ever-more sophisticated ways to trick unsuspecting house buyers and even professional conveyancers out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Conveyancing is seen as a lucrative target by criminals, as intercepting just one transaction can reap high rewards. The main activities used against conveyancers and […]
New software developer/programmer position available at Pali
Pali provide conveyancing searches to the legal profession. We have a bespoke online ordering system for our clients and a bespoke backend online order processing/case management system. Both systems have been entirely designed and built by Pali. Our systems are continuously growing & evolving to keep up with the demands of our clients and maintain […]
House prices up 0.3% in January, say Nationwide
House prices have increased by 0.3% this January, according to Nationwide’s House Price Index. It marks the seventh consecutive increase according to the building society’s estimates and puts their estimate of the average British house price at £196,829. The pace of growth has slowed, however with growth hald a percent down on December’s 0.8%. Commenting […]
Conveyancing Association announces eight new affiliate members
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has announced eight new associate members. The CA say the firms are “specifically appointed by the Association as key firms which can work closely with the CA management and can offer a range of relevant services to the CA membership.” The new associate members are: Search providers Groundsure, PSG, Future Climate […]
Payment Systems Regulator brings in new Head of Policy
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has appointed economist Paul Smith as Head of Policy. Paul Smith has previously worked at Ofgas (Now Ofgem) beofre moving to Postcomm (Now Ofcom). He was recently Chief Executive of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) having been promoted from the position of Senior Director, Strategy and Economic Analysis. He also […]
Mortgage approvals up 24% for December, say BBA
The number of mortgages approved in December was 24% higher than the same period a year ago, according to data published by the British Banking Association (BBA). The report also states that mortgages for house purchase are up 19% and remortgages up 31%. The data also states that the use of credit cards decreased, with […]
Blackstone Solicitors appoint new Commercial Property Partner
Cheshire-based property and litigation firm, Blackstone Solicitors, have appointed Nick Jackson as Commercial Property Partner.Nick Jackson has previously worked at Halliwells LLP and Myers Lister Price Solicitors over his 13 year career which has included sales, purchases, site set-ups, lettings secured lending transactions, retail and student accommodation. According to Blackstone, “Nick specialises in working for […]
