HM Land Registry first Digital Identity Standard launches
HM Land Registry’s first Digital Identity Standard has launched today (Friday 12th March) which allows homebuyers to use their mobile phone to prove their identity. HM Land Registry paves the way with new standard for secure digital ID checks by providing a step-by-step list of requirements for conveyancers’ use of digital services to securely and […]
A positive outlook for conveyancing market
Following the Spring 2021 Budget, market leaders and organisations in the industry voiced their future insights of the property market with great positivity. In the Chancellor’s Budget it was announced that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday will be extended to the end of June – followed by a tapering of the SDLT with the […]
New cladding guidance announced
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued new guidance to lenders which will ultimately lessen the number of wall safety surveys taking place on blocks of flats. The guidance issued clarifies to banks and building societies which properties require valuers to complete an EWS1 form and which do not. RICS’ aim is to […]
Kindness begins with me
Over the last few weeks I’ve woken up to messages on LinkedIn about how many completions conveyancers have managed to sort in the last month and or week. The numbers are phenomenal. You should all be extremely proud of everything that you have achieved and continue to achieve over the coming weeks. I know for me, during times of stress and pressure. […]
Is law still a man’s world? Not in conveyancing
‘Staff are by far our finest asset – many of them working mothers – let’s start treating them that way.’ When I told my company director before Christmas that I was pregnant, I must admit, I felt nervous. Not because I thought she would be anything other than 100% supportive, which she was, but because […]
Stamp Duty holiday fuels recovery in construction activity
Volume of new private housing output jumps 2.7% over most recent three months compared to previous three months1 Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, says: “This latest data reveals the impact the anticipated earlier end date for the Stamp Duty holiday has had on activity in the construction industry before the announced extension. “The slight […]
Ground stability hazards around Greater London
London is a particular hotspot for subsidence. A large number of properties in the Greater London area are built on London Clay, which is one of the most shrinkable of soil types as it’s highly susceptible to changes in volume caused by variation in water content1. This is reflected in the deformation of ground by […]
HMLR Updates
HM Land Registry (HMLR) have provided guidance for conveyancers on how to register unregistered estates in land for the first time (practice guide 1). Section 4.4.4.1 has been amended to clarify existing practice and Section 4.4.3 has been amended to reflect current practice. This guide deals with the procedure to be followed when applying for […]
Feel Good Friday : Robertsons, BDB Pitmans & Prosperity Law
There have been lots of positive things happening across the sector this week, so we wanted to share these good vibes with you as part of our ‘Feel Good Friday’ news items. Here is a little snap shot of what’s been going on. Cardiff law firm, Robertsons has strengthened their conveyancing team with Senior Associate […]
SearchFlow gifts goodies to paediatric unit at Maidstone Hospital
The Riverbank children’s unit at Maidstone Hospital has recently taken delivery of a shipment of gifts from Kings Hill-based SearchFlow. SearchFlow had a surplus of branded goodies that it wanted to rehome, following a recent rebrand. This included soft cuddly owls, as well as notebooks, pens, lip balms, eco-reusable cups, highlighter pens, sticky notepads and […]
SearchFlow launches AI whitepaper: Natural Language Processing for Property Lawyers
SearchFlow, the UK’s largest provider of legal due diligence data for residential and commercial property transactions, has released a new edition of its PropTech AI Whitepaper series, which focuses on providing lawyers with an insight on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its implication on legal practice. It considers the practical applications of NLP and provides […]
IPSA Members Help Streamline Conveyancing Process
Whilst last week’s announcement regarding the extension of the SDLT holiday was welcomed by many, the news was not universally applauded. Countless conveyancing firms have been stretched to their limits over recent months and were looking towards April as a time to be able to reflect, regroup and revitalise their exhausted teams. IPSA Searches, a […]
23rd March d-day for listings
The 23rd March 2021 is the date English sellers should aim to have their home on the market for if they want to benefit from the extended stamp duty holiday, according to Rightmove. According to the portal, on average it takes 65 days for a seller to find a buyer for their home. Following that, […]
Don’t be fooled! Customer service is not the same as customer experience.
Recently some people in the industry have said to me that customer service is not relevant anymore, today apparently it’s all about the customer experience or ‘CX’ as it’s often termed – sounds much sexier doesn’t it? “Yes the customer experience is important but the service your team deliver is what sets you apart from […]
Welsh Land Transaction Tax holiday extended
The Welsh Land Transaction Tax (LTT) – the equivalent of SDLT in England – has been extended by a further three months, and will end on 30th June 2021. Finance Minister Rebecca Evans, confirmed the move meaning that until the end of June there will be no LTT payable on property sales below £250,000 Daryl […]
PII: the impact of the pandemic
Legal Eye MD Paul Saunders talks to Howdens Executive Director Martin Ellis and Divisional Director Colin Taylor about the impact of the pandemic on Professional Indemnity Insurance for law firms. As firms prepare for renewal points in April or October, this short video outlines some of the key trends amongst insurers and offers some tips […]
Why are Easements important?
Easements exist in the majority of freehold titles and so they are important to conveyancers and buyers alike. Easements are certain rights that a person has over another’s land. Rights range from very widespread forms of rights of way, most rights to use service conduits such as telecommunications cables, power supply lines, supply pipes and […]
3 changes the property industry need to make TODAY to prepare for a more sustainable future
As part of a tm:tv series on climate change, in partnership with Terrafirma, the ‘Mining our way to a greener future’ episode brought together an expert panel to discuss how the property industry need to start making changes today, to prepare for the sustainability challenges of tomorrow. Hosted by Martin Manning, Head of Account Management […]
Conveyancing Foundation Be Kind We Care Initiative
The Be Kind We Care initiative has been launched by the Conveyancing Foundation to promote kindness and wellbeing within the property industry. With the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the pressure cooker environment that many in the property industry find themselves in, mental wellbeing and support has become a key issue for many professionals. […]
Category Sponsors announced for British Conveyancing Awards
We’re excited to announce some of our award category sponsors for the upcoming British Conveyancing Awards which are taking the virtual center stage on 25th May 2021 led by broadcast journalist Samira Ahmed. Introducing our award category sponsors The following awards have been sponsored: Best IT Team Sponsored by CTS, who are the managed cloud […]
