UK Property Transactions Decrease In September
HM Revenue and Customs have released their UK Property Transactions Count for September. Continuing the downward trend in sales, the results hint at an upward trajectory of slight pessimism in the market. The seasonally adjusted UK property transactions for residential and non-residential property in September 2018 of 98,400 completed transactions is down on August’s figures […]
Over 55s Anxious About Younger Beneficiaries Financial Naivety
Much is said about the plight of generation rent and the difficult situation they are in when potential inheritance is their only realistic way of affording a property. However, a recent report by Sanlam UK has also stated that the overwhelming majority of people aged of 55 are increasingly anxious about how their inheritance gift […]
SearchFlow shortlisted for The British Legal Awards 2018
SearchFlow, the UK’s leading conveyancing search solutions provider, has been shortlisted as a finalist for The British Legal Awards 2018 in the ‘Supplier of the Year – Business Services’ category. The prestigious awards aim to celebrate achievement, excellence and innovation within the legal profession. The British Legal Awards serve as a showcase for the achievements […]
Law Firms Lack Correct Infrastructure To Embrace Technology
New research reveals how law firms lack the right infrastructure to take control of the legal technology revolution Only 3% of legal professionals said their firms have resource dedicated to R&D or innovation in their business New research launched today has revealed the importance of technology to law firms, but a surprising lack of infrastructure […]
Landlords Resolute Despite Tenants Fees Bill
Following the recent announcement that half of letting agencies in England and Wales will consider leaving the market once the Tenants Fees Bill becomes legal, landlords remain a lot more resolute. A recent survey of over 1,250 landlords, conducted by The Property Hub, found that 77%, equating to 1.75 million investors, intended to increase their […]
Automated Algorithms Could Revolutionise Remortgaging Sector
Since the slightly annoying, yet somehow loveable, Meerkat came into our households with a message for cheaper car insurance, we have expected transparent prices and cheap deals. However, the housing market has been a step behind in this regard and people have been confused and bamboozled by a bombardment of legalese and threats of fees […]
Mortgage Approvals In September Increased For First Time Buyers
First time buyers along with other housebuyers with small deposits had a bigger stake of the housing market in September than in August 2018 – while overall mortgage approvals were higher compared to August. With over 66,000 mortgages approved in September, the market may have been affected by the ongoing impact of the Bank of […]
Phil Spencer Announces UK’s Top Conveyancers At The ESTAS Conveyancer Awards
The ESTAS Customer Service Awards sponsored by SearchFlow are the biggest awards in the UK conveyancing sector. The winners were announced by Phil Spencer, the TV property expert at a glamorous dinner & ceremony at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London. The event was attended by 400 of the UK’s top property lawyers. […]
Letting Agents’ Anxious About Tenants Fees Bill
Renting a property can be a very stressful experience. Living your life at the mercy of someone else and possessing very little control is troubling and exhausting. Currently, over 5 million households, or 21% of the property market are privately rented. This figure is set to rise to 24% by 2021. Over 1.7 million renters […]
House Prices Reach Affordability Breaking Point
Following huge growth in house prices over the past decade, the UK House Price Index for August 2018, has highlighted a slowdown in the market for the last two years. Many are speculating that stagnant wages have caused the housing market to hit an affordability ceiling point. Average house prices in the UK have increased […]
Thirdfort Roundtable Discuss Improving Identity Verification In Homemoving Process
On Friday 12th October, Thirdfort hosted a roundtable with industry regulators and representatives to discuss how digital technology could streamline and improve identity verification in the homemoving process. Attendees included HM Land Registry, Matt Prior of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, regulators SRA, CLC, CILEx and HMRC, representative bodies including the Law […]
The Registration Gap
The Registration Gap Baker v Craggs [2018] EWCA Civ. 1126 Introduction In August 2017 I discussed the ‘registration gap’ and the strange consequences flowing from it in the High Court case of Baker v Craggs. Well, an appeal in that case has now been heard by the Court of Appeal – and with a rather […]
Leaseholders Seek Compensation From Conveyancers
Following the recent announcement from James Brokenshire, Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, of the Government’s plans to cap ground rent at £10 per year, a law firm has also announced that they will be working on behalf of 500 leaseholders to seek compensation for a lack of adequate information before they bought their […]
HM Land Registry Adopt Risk Management PropTech
In a time when more businesses are becoming aware of the importance of cyber security and protection from fraudulent threats, HM Land Registry have employed a Software as a Service (SaaS) specialist, Division Time, in mitigating risk to help protect its £4 trillion worth of assets in land and property. Geoff Higgins, Managing Director of […]
LegalGeek’s Third Annual Conference A Success
Based in the Truman Brewery building, in the heart of London, LegalGeek was poised and ready to open its third annual conference. Having grown exponentially throughout its short life, the quirky, industrial venue reflected the inventive and original startups that were housed within. The cavernous tombs intertwined to reveal a vibrant, chaotic cacophony of enthusiastic […]
Commercial Development: Opening Up Brownfield Land Opportunity
The Government has announced new funding to speed up the house building process, aiming to overcome the roadblocks from potential contamination on brownfield land. Chris Taylor, from Future Climate Info, is one of only a small number of SiLCs (Specialists in Land Condition) in the UK. He provides an assessment on how this renewed focus […]
Warwick Council Pleased With HMLR LLC Digital Migration
In July, Warwick District Council’s data was the first to migrate onto a digital platform. The process made searches available via the new digital Local Land Charges (LLC). Under the HM Land Registry’s (HMLR)new digital process, anyone requiring local land charge searches in the local authority will now get them from HM Land Registry rather […]
115,000 Housing Delays Per Year Cost £15 Million
For many, following a long and exhausting buying process, moving into your house is a landmark occasion indicating the next chapter in your life. However, for too many of us, the day itself turns into a litany of delays and additional costs. Staggeringly, according to the study conducted by YouGov on behalf of HomeOwners Alliance […]
The ESTAS Conveyancer Awards Are Almost Here
This Friday sees the biggest and best bash in our industry take place, when The ESTAS Conveyancer Awards sponsored by SearchFlow are held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London. The ESTAS are the most prestigious awards for property professionals in the UK. This is because shortlisted and winning firms are selected […]
Property Hijacker Stopped And Jailed
A dishonest daughter turned ‘property hijacker’ has been jailed for three years following the attempted sale of her father’s home whilst he was in a care home and his wife was abroad caring for a sick relative. HM Land Registry have reported an astronomical rise in Friday Fraudsters and Property Hijackers over the past five […]
