“Deposit Unlock” – the new Help to Buy?
The newly announced Deposit Unlock scheme brought by a joint venture between the Home Builders Federation and the insurer Gallacher Re will help prospective housebuilders raise deposits and encourage lenders to be more flexible. Following a pilot in the North East between Newcastle Building Society and several homebuilders, the scheme is now ready to go […]
X-Press Legal Services welcomes new owner for Central region
X-Press Legal Services has announced the arrival of new owner David Mermod for one of the largest franchise regions. Central region, which covers Nuneaton, Bedford, Telford, Shropshire, North West Leicestershire, Powys, Hereford, Coventry and Rugby will now come under the stewardship of David Mermod. David comes with a wealth of experience in the sector, having completed […]
New look and new features enhance Terrafirma reports – now LIVE.
Ground risk specialists Terrafirma has announced further improvements to their leading CON29M and Ground Report to aid conveyancers as part of their Autumn updates, live from Monday 18th October. In addition to upgraded site plans and hazard maps across all Terrafirma ground risk reports, a completely redesigned front page for Terrafirma’s flagship Ground Report is […]
tmgroup welcomes new Sales and Marketing Director
tmgroup have welcomed Matt Joy into his new role as Sales and Marketing Director at tmgroup. Previously Sales and Marketing Director at Conveyancing Data Services (CDS) – part of tmgroup since 2018 – Matt brings a wealth of industry experience to the role and will play a key part in enhancing the tmgroup and CDS […]
De-Mystifying Blockchain – Today’s Conveyancer Podcast
The Today’s Conveyancer podcast returns with an episode dedicated to de-mystifying blockchain. In this episode we introduce Dan Salmons, CEO of Blockchain technology provider Coadjute. Dan sets out to de-mystify what blockchain technology is, and more importantly how it has the potential to make the “quantum leap” in the battle against seemingly ever increasing transaction […]
Sellers chance their arm with high price listings
The price of property coming to market has surged past last month’s record and jumped by an average of 1.8% (+£5,983) this month according to Rightmove’s October House Price Index. With inflation threatening the continuing of record law interest rates, buyers are moving quickly to take advantage before potential rate rises; which could come quicker […]
Estate agents should do more to tackle conveyancing fraud
A leading compliance specialist in the estate agency market has suggested that estate agents should be doing more to support efforts to complete customer due diligence and tackle money laundering. Compliance Officer for The Guild of Property Professionals, Paul Offley, has said that agents should be following “best practice” to establish the legal/beneficial owner of […]
Financial Conduct Authority issues warning over remote working
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued new guidance to companies operating a remote or hybrid working model asking them to provide evidence that any lack of centralised location or remote working does not or is unlikely to affect the company’s ability to meet the threshold for the regulated activities it undertakes. The guidance states […]
PII renewal remains challenging: Why? How can you mitigate against it?
By the time this article is published, we will have got through the key 1st October renewal date for SRA regulated Firms, following the immensely difficult CLC renewal earlier in the summer. Overall the Market for Legal Firms’ Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) remains very challenging, and indeed we have seen some Firms simply being unable […]
DLUHC must back up words with action
A ‘new broom’ sweeps clean so they say. When it comes to our sector having a new Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), let’s hope not. When looking at the current political situation with regards to the housing market, it is possible that we might get too ‘worked […]
The return to normal
In many ways October marks a return to ‘normal’ for the economy and the property market, says Nicky Stevenson, MD of Fine & Country UK. “The final stamp duty holiday has ended, travel restrictions are easing, and the furlough scheme has drawn to a close,” she adds. Stevenson says that as certain aspects revert back […]
Groundsure releases new research to warn of the mining risk to homebuyers
Groundsure has released new research to alert homeowners of the hidden hazards associated with disused mine shafts in some of the UKs major cities. In Groundsure’s latest white paper, the research identifies more than eight million residential properties nationally could be affected by disused mine shafts due to how close to the foundations of a […]
How has stamp duty evolved over the past 25 years?
The cost of Stamp Duty Land Tax to the average homebuyers has increased by 490% over the last 25 years. The analysis has been conducted by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, and also reveals that as a result of the significant increase in house prices the average bill post 30th September 2020 […]
Hybrid working opens up new opportunities for widening commuter belts
In a national survey of full or part-time employed people 9 in 10 workers (92%), who now increasingly divide their time between home and the office, would be willing to commute further to buy or rent their desired property or live in their preferred location The survey also found that 69% of hybrid workers are […]
Clio Launches Brand-New Hub for Law Firms
Running a law firm can be one of the most rewarding undertakings a legal professional will undertake, and the right support and resources can make that experience all the more rewarding. That is why legal practice management software provider Clio has just launched a brand-new learning hub, called The Making of a Law Firm Hub. […]
Conveyancing Association Operations Director Steps Down
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has today announced Lloyd Davies has decided to retire from his position of Operations Director and will not be standing as a Director at the upcoming CA AGM on the 21st October. Lloyd took up the role of Operations Director in 2015 and […]
Long term stability predicted for housing market
Buyers are starting to return to the UK housing market but have little choice of new properties in the short term, while sentiment indicates longer term stability in the housing market according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey. The anticipated fall in demand in the run up to the Stamp Duty deadline has now […]
£58m to put “beautiful homes on brownfield sites” and regenerate local areas
Following the Prime Minster’s conference pledge to put “beautiful homes on brownfield sites in places where homes make sense” the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have announced that thousands of new homes will be built on underused and derelict land. 53 councils across England and Wales have been allocated £58 million from […]
Conveyancing industry losing talented women due to the menopause
Panic attacks, tinnitus, mood swings, brain fog, and extreme pain are just some of the many symptoms that can make it near-impossible for women to continue working when the menopause strikes. For many, this costs them their confidence and careers and for some women despair associated with Menopause can lead to suicide. For businesses, the […]
SLC urges Government to act on cladding
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers has urged the government to take urgent action to protect all those affected by the cladding scandal in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Board Member and former Chairman John Clay has written an open letter to the Secretary of State Michael Gove urging immediate action to support all […]
