AI Portal Claims Its Better Than Rightmove And Zoopla For Investors
A new artificial intelligence (AI) powered property website believes it is offering a more desirable portal for investors and landlords than online real estate platform and property websites, Rightmove and Zoopla. One & Only Pro’s sole goal is to help investors and landlords find the ‘very best deals’ which they feel differentiates itself from websites […]
First-Time Buyer Figures Hit Highest Levels Since 2006
Latest industry figures, from UK Finance, have indicated that 370,000 home owners acquired a mortgage for the first time in 2018. This figure is the highest number of first-time buyers entering the market since 2006, over a year before the financial crash and 1.9% higher than the figures for 2017. Additionally, new lending also increased […]
Buy To Rent Market Increases By 39% In 2018
The housing market has been privy to a 39% increase in the number of buy-to-rent (BTR) properties being built in the UK between Quarter 4 of 2017 and Quarter 4 of 2018. According to latest research figures, carried out by the British Property Federation, at the end of 2017, 31,250 homes were built for BTR […]
Going The Extra 133,000 Miles: Search Acumen Are First To Introduce Public Rights Of Way Data Within Property Insight Platform
For the first time, lawyers and property professionals can now digitally examine public pathways and footpaths that might affect transactions Instant access to Local Authority data now saves weeks in waiting time New dataset will help lawyers to make better, faster risk assessments to avoid costly reparations further into the property purchase The ForeSite […]
Giving Law Firms The Inside Track On Key Fronts
Running a law firm is hard enough, but the working environment for all legal service professionals has changed rapidly over the past year and is only going to continue changing as we approach the Brexit deadline of March 29th. In addition to the usual cash pressures that affect cash-intensive businesses like law firms, a hardening […]
New Online Tracker Informs Conveyancers of Japanese Knotweed Risk
A new Japanese knotweed tracking tool has been launched which provides an interactive online heatmap of Japanese knotweed sightings across the UK. Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap will be a valuable resource for property professionals involved in residential transactions, including developers, surveyors, and conveyancing solicitors, enabling them to build a picture of local knotweed sightings and […]
Leon Brittan’s Brother Suffers At The Hands Of A Fraudster
Sir Samuel Brittan, who is the brother of former home secretary Leon Brittan, has been cruelly swindled out of his life’s savings. An arrest warrant has been issued for the conwoman, Michelle Braithwaite, who stole over £115,000 from author Sir Samuel Brittan. While suffering from reduced mental capacity, Braithwaite, who acted as his carer, plundered […]
Free Legal Helpline Launches To Simplify Conveyancing Process
The average conveyancing case involves over 130 documents and 300 emails between clients and agents or lawyers. UNU Group’s new helpline offers support for those buying or selling property to help demystify the legal process. Understanding the legal side of property transactions has long been the domain of CLC Lawyers and Solicitors. Conveyancing, or the […]
Long-Term Optimism Overshadowed By Short-Term Anxiety For The Bridging Market
According to a recent report, carried out by the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL), short-term lenders are able to feel a certain level of optimism for the UK’s long-term economic future. 20% more respondents were confident about the UK economy moving forward when compared with the figures from 2017. In total 57% viewed the […]
Code For Completion Amendments Improve Buyer Protection
On Friday, last week, The Law Society published the latest version of the Code for Completion that will come into force on 1 May 2019. The amendments to the Code for Completion have been made in response to the implications following the infamous Dreamvar case which exploded last summer. The Court of Appeal upheld that […]
House Repossessions At Lowest Levels In 30 Years
Despite the anxieties regarding a slowing market and Brexit implications on the economy, repossessions fell to their lowest levels in thirty years according to recent statistics by UK Finance. You would need to go back to when Flock of Seagulls haircuts were in fashion to find lower figures than the 4,580 home-owner possessions experienced in […]
USA And EU Clash On Appropriate Anti-Money Laundering Approaches
A significant row has developed between the USA’s Treasury Department and The European Union following the implementation of stricter anti-money laundering (AML) processes that has seen a number of US overseas territories blacklisted by the EU for perceived weakened anti-money laundering approaches and laws. Following the amendments to the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, the […]
Index Hosts ‘Current Planning Issues and Risks Property Law Update’ Seminar
Index London North West are delighted to be hosting the Westminster and Holborn Law Society’s ‘Current Planning Issues and Risks Property Law Update’ Seminar on Wednesday 27th February at 6pm. ‘Kindly hosted by Index Property Information, 16 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BX This annual update on the latest developments in planning law will be run by Paul Addison, […]
Toxic Air Could Be Cause For Higher Depression Rates In London Teens
Exposure to Air Pollution, largely from diesel emissions, could be contributing to mental health issues in young Londoners, research has shown. King’s College London scientists found teenagers living around sources of pollution were more than twice as likely to have depression, compared to those in areas where the air is relatively clean. The study, funded […]
House Price Increases Hit Lowest Level Since 2013
House prices have plummeted to their lowest levels since 2013, according to the most recent ONS House Price Index for December. Overall, house prices increased by 2.5% in the year to December, this is a 0.2% decrease on November’s figures of 2.7%. Although the average house price in the UK will now cost £231,000 and […]
Stamp Duty Land Tax Surcharge Consultation Underway
Following the government’s vague promise to increase Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) with a surcharge placed on properties bought by foreign investors during the Conservative Party Conference in October last year, the changes are about to come into force following a consultation process. Any foreign investor in UK property, specifically in England and Northern Ireland, […]
Leasehold Homes Scandal
There has been much written about the ‘leasehold homes scandal’ over the past 12-18 months and, while we have Government movement in terms of stopping future sales of leasehold homes, this might be seen as cold comfort for those for whom such legislative changes are too late. On the positive side, even before the Government […]
Search Acumen Comments On ONS Construction Output In Great Britain
Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, comments: “The UK commercial real estate sector was a rare bright spot in the last quarter of 2018, with new commercial work helping bring up otherwise poor construction figures. Property developers have spent the year worrying about just how bad the fallout from Brexit could be for the sector, […]
Elite Conveyancing And Wilford Smith Launch Joint Venture
Elite Conveyancing and Wilford Smith launch joint venture to attract top performing conveyancing lawyers. The quality-focused, national conveyancing provider, Elite Conveyancing has formed a key strategic partnership with Sheffield and London based Wilford Smith Solicitors which will allow conveyancing lawyers the opportunity to become self-employed Consultants. Essentially, Wilford Smith will become the umbrella brand for […]
Lawyers Go In-house At GP Surgeries
The Ministry of Justice is planning to put lawyers to work in doctors’ surgeries in an attempt to deal with legal problems early. The suggestion has been made as part of an official review of the 2013 cuts which saw legal aid reduced from £2bn to £1.6bn. This included a reduction in help available to […]
