The Land Registry surpasses 25million registered titles
Established in 1862, The HM Land Registry has now registered more than 25.2 million titles. In 2017, remarkably, a Northern Powergrid electricity substation in Gateshead became the 25 millionth title to be entered in the Land Register. HM Land Registry is dedicated to becoming the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open […]
Law Commission recommendations include anti fraud measures
Property fraudsters could be stopped in their tracks by technical fixes of the law, according to the Law Commission. The independent legal body say HM Land Registry has had to fork out close to £60 million in indemnity payments because of fraud over the past decade. As a result, it’s recommending measures to help prevent […]
How is technology shaking up the conveyancing industry?
Earlier this year, a new online platform was launched which allows people the opportunity to buy a property in just one click. The Dot Button, which was created by one of the founders of buy-to-let mortgage lender Landbay, enables investors to finance and acquire properties online, similar to the way they would buy a book. […]
Criminals who launder money though UK property could face 5 years in prison
The Government has announced that foreign companies that own UK properties will have to reveal their ultimate owners on the world’s first public register. Furthermore, criminals who illegally profit from owning British property could face up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine. A press release on the Gov.uk website states that making […]
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal seeks to bring clarity to disciplinary proceedings
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has opened a consultation on the current standard of proof used in disciplinary proceedings. The Tribunal is seeking views on whether it should be easier to prosecute solicitors for misconduct. At present, the standard of proof used in disciplinary proceedings is the criminal standard. However, the SDT has requested views […]
Conveyancers comment on low growth in UK house prices
House prices increased by 3% in the year to May 2018 (down from 3.5% in April 2018) according to the Office of National Statistics. This is its lowest annual rate since August 2013 when it was also 3.0%. The annual growth rate has slowed since mid-2016 and has remained under 5%, with the exception of […]
Webinar: Dealing with your New Conveyancing Enquiries
Every single day, residential conveyancing departments receive telephone calls from prospective clients looking for a quote. But every single day, the majority of conveyancers lose new business because of the way these calls are handled. Those receiving enquiries often feel that is an administrative task, rather than an important business development role. How quote calls are dealt […]
High-Class Urban Report Protects City Conveyancers Professional Indemnity
Exclusively placed in the industry, DevAssist have designed the only reports of their type in the UK which audits sites for development risks and opportunities.
Land registry releases data showing a slump in housing transactions
Only 24 hours after the Land registry released data showing a 20 per cent slump in housing transactions, new figures from the Equity Release Council throw some light on why older owners may no longer be moving house so frequently. The data shows that the equity release market is moving closer to the psychologically-important threshold […]
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC)
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), which oversees the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), has presented its Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 to Parliament. LeO accepted 7,527 legal complaints in the 2017-18 financial year. This rose from 7,223 in the previous year with residential conveyancing, personal injury, family law, wills and probate and litigation the most complained […]
Ombudsman issues a statement following Trading Standards Warning to Estate Agents
Following yesterday’s press release from Trading Standards – or more specifically the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) – entitled ‘Warning to estate agents still signed up with Ombudsman Services for redress – make the switch’, and our previous article published yesterday about Trading Standards issuing a warning to estate agents over redress. An […]
LFS Announces Final Shortlist For The Awards 2018
LFS are delighted to announce the final shortlist for the LFS Conference and Awards which is taking place at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham on the 19th September. The LFS Conference and Awards is the most respected and prestigious event on the conveyancing calendar which attracts leading professionals and suppliers from the whole of […]
Are industry conferences worthwhile?
Whether you’re a well established conveyancer or you’re brand new to the sector, conferences are something you will soon become accustomed to.
Search Acumen comments on ONS House Price Index May 2018
Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, comments: “Today’s figures show that the slowing UK housing market has now effectively hit a brick wall. “For some, this is welcome relief. Particularly in the capital, stalled house prices mean first-time buyers finally have a better chance of catching up. With the exception of the top end London […]
How I Coped with Stress
This is a blog by Jonathan de Lance-Holmes which originally featured on LawCare.
Trading Standards issues warning to estate agents over redress
Trading Standards has warned agents that they must switch to a valid redress service. Agents who do not do so by 6 August will leave customers unable to access free alternative dispute resolution services. And, as such, they will be trading illegally. The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) “protects consumers and businesses by […]
Recognition for PM Property Lawyers in top conveyancing award
PM Property Lawyers has been Highly Commended in the Outstanding Commitment to Training category at the 2018 Modern Law Conveyancing awards. The awards recognise innovation and achievement in the conveyancing sector, with the expert judging panel looking for firms that have achieved the highest standards in their category. The ceremony was held on 12 July […]
Mortgage lender targets Airbnb hosts
Tipton & Coseley Building Society has launched a new mortgage product which is explicitly aimed at borrowers looking to short-let their properties. Potentially changing the buy-to-let market, it is thought that this type of mortgage will appeal to those running holiday lets, as well as Airbnb hosts (and those using similar platforms). Commenting on the […]
Be Careful – It’s a Jungle Out There!
Japanese Knotweed Indemnity Policy Now Available Whilst the presence of a garden is often something that buyers look for, not all plants are friendly to home owners. Buyers and especially lenders will always be rightly concerned when a seller’s replies to a Property Information Form indicate that there is a risk that Japanese Knotweed (“Knotweed”) […]
Home moves by homeowners drop by 10% in a year
11 July 2018: The UK’s homeowners are staying put, with the number of home moves within the owner-occupier sector plummeting by 10% between 2016 and 2017, according to new analysis by home move website reallymoving.com, as Brexit uncertainty bites and homeowners become increasingly reluctant to take on new debt. Reallymoving.com has analysed the English Housing […]
