Mortgage Completions Reach Record Highs In Q4 2018
Despite the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) speculating that house prices and transactions would remain flat in 2019 amidst Brexit uncertainty, Q4 statistics for 2018 highlighted significant growth in the use of intermediary lenders. The IMLA figures emphasised that 89% of first-time buyer mortgages were completed during the final quarter of the calendar year, an […]
Protect Your Firm And Clients From Cyber Criminals
Exclusive risk management solution provider, Lawyer Checker now offers Cyber Essentials certification to safeguard law firms and their clients from cyber criminals. Our expert understanding of the legal industry and the imminent potential cyber threats means that we are in a unique position to ensure that your business is protected from the main threats without […]
The Ongoing “Referral Fee” Debate
David Knapp, Partner and head of residential property at law firm Hart Brown, comments on the ongoing “referral fee” debate The subject of referral fees in conveyancing is a subject I have commented on a number of times in recent years, and the frustration that the Governments’ ban in certain areas of law has not […]
Housing Market Experts Respond To Spring Statement
The Spring Statement announced itself by declaring the financial promises do not amount to a budget with a number of housing measures being suggested to improve the broken housing market. In particular, the government will guarantee £3 billion of borrowing to housing associations across the UK to fund the Affordable Home Guarantee Scheme which will […]
Firms Must Adapt To Changing Consumer Behaviour
There was a time when a consumer’s purchasing opportunities were restricted: Sunday meant that the shops were closed and by the time the sun had set on another day, so had the ability to shop. Business and shopping hours were finite and limited. With technological advancements, our shopping experience is now 24/7. Consumer expectations have […]
UK’s Available Housing Stock Continues To Decline
A recent housing index, carried out by Agency Express, has echoed UK wide trends and sentiments that sellers remain nervous to enter the housing market in the midst of severe political uncertainty. Whilst sales increased to 16.9% from 15.5% in February 2018 nationally, new listings entering the market fell from 2.7% in February 2018 to […]
Landmark Shortlisted For Conveyancing Award At LegalEx 2019
Landmark Information, the property, land and environmental data specialist, has been shortlisted for the Conveyancing Award at this year’s LegalEx 2019 Expo. The event, which is UK’s leading event for business growth, professional development and cyber security in the legal sector, takes place on 27th and 28th March at London’s Excel venue and brings together […]
Law Firms Amongst Quickest To Report Data Breaches Pre GDPR
A recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request has found that law firms were amongst the quickest organisations to react and report data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). However, in the time prior to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), businesses languished for too long until they reported the breach to the UK’s official watchdog. […]
Freehold ‘Inequality Of Arms’ Scrapped Under Leasehold Reforms
Currently, leaseholders who successfully sue their freeholder are frequently liable to pay the legal costs incurred by the losing side. As was reported in The Sunday Times, this legal loophole often leaves leaseholders burdened with far greater debts than they were originally fighting to reduce. Following the report, the government intend to scrap this loophole […]
Dye & Durham UK acquires Index Property Information Group To Grow Share Of UK Property Search Market
Dye & Durham (UK) Ltd today announces that it has acquired 100% of Index Property Information Group Ltd Index Property Information will become an integral part of Dye & Durham’s UK group of companies, joining easyconvey and Finlay Associates and establishes Dye & Durham as a leader in the UK property information and legal technology […]
Specialist Compliance Adviser Joins The Legal Eye Team
Steven Taylor has joined specialist risk and compliance business Legal Eye as Compliance Adviser. Steven brings an extensive background in banking and in litigation funding as well as direct experience as a MLRO, further strengthening the depth and breadth of experience available from the Legal Eye team. Having started his career in financial services with […]
10 Principles Suggested To Revolutionise Archaic Digital Regulations
A recent report, completed by the Communications Committee in the House of Lords, has claimed that the use of and reliance on digital technology has moved at a swifter pace than the regulations monitoring business and individual safety. ‘Regulating in a Digital World’ recommends that a main regulatory body is needed to knit together the […]
Legal Sector Overwhelmingly Unprepared For Brexit
The majority of law firms have failed to prepare for Brexit and do not prioritise it as an immediate concern despite the March 29 deadline just weeks away. According to the most recent Bellwether Report Series – ‘The Luxury of Uncertainty’ – by Lexis Nexis, fewer than 1 in 10 law firms have put in […]
Arun District Council Wins Customer Satisfaction Accolade At Land Data Local Land Charges Awards 2019
Solicitors vote for Arun District Council as winner of the Customer Satisfaction Award at the 2019 Land Data Local Land Charges Awards. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council highly commended. Solicitors and licensed conveyancers from around the country have voted in the 12th Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for the local authority Local Land Charges […]
Invitation To Free Webinar On The Groundsure Homebuyers – Including What To Do Next!
Pali, in conjunction with Groundsure, would like to invite you to join our free Webinar presenting a detailed guide to Groundsure Homebuyers – including practical steps on what to do next. When: Tuesday 12th March 2019 Time: 11:00 Duration: Approx 1 hour CPD: 1 CPD point To register for this webinar please click on the link https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2953297424234595843 In this […]
Property Sector Poses Economic Risk From AML Perspective
A new report released on Friday believes that the UK’s anti-money laundering system is fragmented and needs urgently re-ordering. The unanimously agreed report ‘Economic Crime – Anti-Money Laundering Supervision and Sanctions Implementation’ was transparent in their confusion as to the extent of the problem in the UK. Conflicting reports indicating the problem could be anywhere […]
Gender Equality Needs More Prominent Position In Society
March 8 marked the annual International Women’s Day (IWD). Whilst ‘great strides’ have been taken since the Sex Disqualification Act was passed in 1919, allowing women to train as a solicitor, recent Law Society research indicates that the legal sector still needs to place gender equality on a higher pedestal as there is a clear […]
The Importance Of Price And Service Transparency
A recent report by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has found that the public have severe misunderstandings and negative attitudes toward legal service providers. In particular, perceptions of affordability deter many people from using legal service providers. BSB research has found that a staggering 63% of the UK population do not believe that professional legal […]
Lawyer Checker Partners With Global Legal Technology Solution Provider
Lawyer Checker has collaborated with Tikit, a global supplier of technological solutions to legal firms, to safeguard their clients against fraud. Exclusive risk management solution provider, Lawyer Checker has integrated with Tikit’s practice and case management software, Partner for Windows (P4W) interface so clients now have the ability to use their own Lawyer Checker’s Account […]
Damar Training’s 2019 Apprenticeship Awards – The Results Are In!
Now in their 14th year, Damar Training’s annual apprenticeship awards are a celebration of the achievements of apprentices, their employers and line managers. The results, released during National Apprenticeship Week, show once again the difference that apprenticeships are making to individuals and organisations and also the commitment shown by employers and managers. This year’s awards […]
