Sharp increase in legal professionals seeking help for anxiety
The number of legal professionals contacting the charity LawCare for emotional support continues to rise year on year, with 738 legal professionals seeking help in 2020, a rise of 9% on the previous year. The charity received 964 calls, webchats, and emails to their support service in 2020. The most common problems cited were stress […]
Digital ID spurred on by Covid pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic had had a big impact on the issue of confirming client identities, especially in the homebuying and selling market. The virus has in effect sped up the sector’s need to adopt technology, because conveyancers and other stakeholders in the property chain are unable to meet people as often as they usually would […]
Fall through fear
Fall-throughs and aborted sales are costing UK homebuyers £607 million every year, a number which many predict will rise even further as the stamp duty holiday (SDLT) deadline inevitably arrives. Fears for an increase in fall throughs are growing and can cause additional stress not only for vendors and buyers, but also for conveyancers who […]
Movers and Shakers – 29 Jan 2021
A new year, often means a new start, and here at Today’s Conveyancer, we wanted to share with you the good news we’ve had within in the industry of professionals joining firms and those who have moved up the promotional ladder. This week we’ve seen the following announcements with regards to appointments and promotions: Jesper […]
Help to Buy application now open
The new Help to Buy Scheme which will help first-time buyers take that first step onto the property ladder, has now opened for applications. Whilst the new scheme keeps most of the features of the previous (2013-21), a new regional price limit means the cost of the new build property must not exceed 1.5 times the average […]
New Property Trends Report from Landmark
Cross-market trend analysis for England and Wales’ residential property market – a complete analysis of the property transaction pipeline from property listings, sold subject to contract, legal conveyancing and completions Landmark Information Group, the leading provider of information to the UK property market, has today announced the launch of a new Property Trends Report, which […]
Conveyancing Association announce Terrafirma as latest Affiliate member
Terrafirma, a provider of ground risk assessment, has today (28th January 2021) become the latest firm to join the Conveyancing Association, the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, as Affiliate members. Established in 2015, Terrafirma provides accurate and innovative mining and ground risk assessment and is a provider of property searches in the UK, […]
Half of conveyancers want SDLT scrapped
Over half of conveyancers want SDLT on property purchasers under £500,000 to be scrapped if the government continues with its plan to end the SDLT holiday on 31st March, according to a snap poll run by Index West Midlands. More than half (51.2%) think scrapping stamp duty will be the best course of action, but […]
Firms lead the way by Thanking the NHS
It’s safe to say the last 12 months has been strange to say the least. But one thing that has been a blessing has been the National Health Service (NHS) and all of those who keep the country healthy. The Great British public came together to clap for heroes on a Thursday, supermarkets offered discounts […]
Lockdown set to continue till March
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has stated that the national lockdown will remain in effect until early March at the earliest, as the UK comes to terms with the news that we have surpassed 100,000 deaths. During Prime Minister’s Querstions, he told the House of Commons that schools would be the first part of society to […]
Search insurance – Cover, Claims and Common Misconceptions
It is estimated that 1 in 3 property transactions require some form of search or indemnity insurance and yet it is often seen as an ‘add on’ to the conveyancing process. Because of the increasing need for insurance, it should be considered as managing risk not just as selling insurance products. Search and indemnity insurance […]
Vendors grow, but slowing residential property market directionless overall
New vendors were up 9.28%, or 11.22 points, to end the week on 132.13, some 32% above the average and just 2% below the same week last year. Buyers fell 1.36%, or 1.73 points, to close at 125.22, 25% above the pre-covid-19 average and 8% down on the same week 2020. Uncertainty over whether the […]
Under-pressure conveyancing process could be improved by mirroring lettings
The antiquated conveyancing system could be more effective if it mirrored some of the best practice from the lettings process, according to Gazeal. The digital platform says that the additional pressure on the conveyancing process caused by the stamp duty holiday has highlighted its shortcomings and that evolution is urgently needed. Mirroring lettings would represent […]
Register tax advice work now or face SRA enforcement, law firms warned
Solicitor firms could face enforcement by the profession’s regulator if they do not register their tax advice work under new anti-money-laundering (AML) obligations, the Law Society of England and Wales has cautioned. Earlier this month, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stated that solicitors had until 10 January to check if any tax advice work they […]
CLC pushes back against proposed 19% increase in cost of Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) proposed 19% budget increase is not justified and needs to be revisited, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has said in proposing the creation of an external task force to help it deal with complaints more quickly. LeO is seeking a budget of £15.3m for 2021/22 in light of a rapidly […]
Legal service workers will work extra 20 days when working from home
Law firms are gaining the equivalent of an extra 20 working days a year from employees putting in longer shifts when they work from home, according to new research from Atlas Cloud. The research reveals that by working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic, instead of commuting to an office, employees in the sector are saving an […]
More lenders embrace search Insurance
The fast approaching end of the SDLT holiday in March means that residential property lawyers are under even more pressure to complete purchases quickly. They will be pleased to hear that major lenders Skipton Building Society and NatWest will now accept Search Insurance in place of Local Authority Searches. NatWest will temporarily accept Search Insurance […]
SDLT debate will happen….on Monday
There may be a welcome sigh of relief from those in the housing market as a date has now been set for the SDLT petition to be heard. It’s on Monday 1 February 2021 at 4.30pm. Elliot Colburn, member of the Petitions Committee, will lead the session. Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to […]
Women in Residential Property Christmas event raises over £1,000 for the charity, Ella’s
The Women in Residential Property network (WIRP) which aims to encourage collaboration and understanding between women working across the residential property industry raised over £1,000 for the charity, Ella’s at their last event of 2020. Commenting, Emma Vigus, Chair of WIRP: “We’ve been supporting Ella’s for the last 18 months. It’s a small charity […]
CLS Property Insight introduces Savendale, Powered by CLS PI
CLS Property Insight (CLS PI) announces a new partnership with Savendale Insurance Services – an established company with unrivalled industry experience and expertise that will bring a focused series of offerings to private client solicitors in Scotland. CLS PI has become a market-leading provider of Executry and Guardianship Bonds by listening to the industry and […]
