599 Complaints made to the Land Registry in 3-month period
Today’s Conveyancer can report that information received from the Land Registry through a Freedom of Information request, the body recorded 599 complaints in the period from April 2016 – June 2016. Customer contacts are regarded as complaints where there is “any expression of dissatisfaction where a response or an action is needed to help resolve […]
The impact of the unfair terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 on flat leases
Roundlistic Ltd v Jones & Anor [2016] UKUT 325 (TCC) (07 July 2016)
The challenges and implications of the General Data Protection Regulation
General data protection regulation will become law in July 2018 and will affect every organisation that processes EU residents’ personally identifiable information. Philip Tansley, Legal Director for Technology and Cyber Risk at RPC LLP, on the regulators views and the claims that are shaping those views. The effect of Brexit upon GDPR remains to be […]
Mortgage and property fraud up 50% this year
Mortgage and property fraud have increased by 50% in the past year, according to a study by information services company Experian. According to the firm, mortgage and property fraud now make up 6% of all fraud cases, with ten mortgage brokers barred from the industry every year over wrongdoing. Last week the Crime Survey for […]
SRA submit proposed practising fees proposal
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have submitted proposals for lowering mandatory practising fees to the Legal Services Board (LSB). The current fee for an individual is £320, however for the 2016/17 practising year the fee will be £290 with LSB approval. The SRA say practising fees are used to pay statutory levies to the LSB, Legal […]
Law Society say SRA’s new handbook could lead to “two tier” profession
The new handbook proposed by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority could lead to a two tier solicitor profession according tot he Law Society. Responding to the consultation on proposals on slashing the size of the handbook as well as giving different rules for those working within regulated entities and those outside, the Law Society Chief Executive […]
SearchFlow geared up to CON29 changes and business as usual
The Law Society’s revisions to the CON29 forms have now been in place since Monday 4th July and have been rolled out successfully to conveyancers, reports SearchFlow, property intelligence specialists. The changes to CON29 forms have been implemented to improve the quality and consistency of information. In addition, some new mandatory questions to the forms relating […]
CON29 delays are unavoidable for many
Today is D day for the new CON29 format introduced by The Law Society. Over the last couple of months PSG has been in communication with all 326 Local Authorities in England and Wales to find out the state of readiness of each to produce the new CON29 and also provide access the to the […]
CON29 Changes – will your search be delayed?
Monday 4th July will see some notable changes in the CON 29 & CON 29O forms. The Law Society has updated and amended most questions in order to take account of a variety of legislative changes such as the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013. In addition, some new mandatory questions to the forms relating to; […]
A phased review of the SRA Handbook and regulatory approach – Principles, Code of Conduct and Practice Framework Rules
The SRA is planning to radically simplify the Handbook, starting with revising the Principles and the Code of Conduct. For the first time, they are proposing two separate codes – a Code of Conduct for Solicitors and a Code of Conduct for Firms. These replace detailed and prescriptive requirements with a framework for competent and […]
The CLC’s Stephen Ward on the regulator’s recent review, new probate qualifications and regulation of will writing
The Council for Licensed Conveyancer recently received a positive report from the Legal Services Board over it’s work, and this week had their new PII scheme approved. Today’s Conveyancer’s Jane Common spoke to the regulator’s Director of External Relations Stephen Ward about recent developments, including a review of its Handbook and the introduction of new […]
Conveyancers PI we Comply
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) proposal for practices to move away from its Master Policy with an opt-out for Professional Indemnity Insurance to a more competitive open-market approach. Instead, five insurers have signed up to a Participating Insurers Agreement setting out Minimum Terms and Conditions of cover. […]
Conveyancers react to forthcoming review of the home buying process
The news that the government is to look at how the home buying process can be improved has received a mixed reaction from conveyancers. The announcement was originally reported in March by Today’s Conveyancer with solicitor and Conservative MP Will Quince mentioning the forthcoming call for evidence in a parliamentary debate last week, calling for […]
Birmingham Law Society announce Risk, Regulation and Due Diligence conference with Landmark
A conference on identifying and mitigating environmental risks is set to take place on the 15th September in Birmingham, organised by Landmark Information Group and the Birmingham law Society Speakers include the Head of Birmingham University’s law School and specialist on land based risk, Professor Robert Lee. Also speaking is His Honor Judge Peter Cooke, […]
Land Registry issues updated guidance on evidence of identity for conveyancers
The guidance for conveyancers on evidence of identity for change of name applications has been updated by Land Registry. Section 6.3 on Change of name has been amended to clarify that, where evidence of identity is supplied in respect of a change of name application, Land Registry also need to see evidence in the person’s former […]
Search Acumen and Land Data announce webinar to bring conveyancers up to speed on CON 29 and CON 29O changes
New CON 29 & CON 29O forms to go live on 4 July 2016 Webinar in partnership with Search Acumen will be hosted by Jan Boothroyd, an authority on local land charges, on 21st and 30th June Attendees to get free access to a downloadable guide; registrations limited to two per firm due to expected […]
MP calls for CML handbook to be reduced to speed up conveyancing
Reducing the size of the Council for Mortgage Lenders Handbook would vastly speed up the conveyancing process according to one former conveyancing MP. The MP for Colchester Will Quince was admitted as a solicitor in 2013 before his election in 2015 was contributing to a Westminster Hall debate on the conveyancing process. Quince also said […]
SRA open up consultation on size and scope of handbook
The Solicitors Regulation Authority are proposing slashing their handbook to enable Solicitors to work across new fields and markets like will writing, advice on social welfare, employment or tax The consultation is set to run until September with the SRA saying they want to move away from “complex, prescriptive rules” to a focus on “principles and […]
Regulation is poor value for money, Solicitors tell LSB
Solicitors regard regulation generally as poor value for money, according to a report by the Legal Services Board. The cost of regulation is also bundled up with other costs of doing business in the mind of the solicitor such as non-legal regulatory requirements and membership of quality assurance schemes such as non-legal regulatory requirements and […]
Land Registry Practice Guide Amendment & April Transaction Data
The Land Registry has recently made amendments to Practice Guide 39, which covers Rectification and Indemnity. This guide is aimed at conveyancers and shows information on how to apply for rectification and compensation which is paid to those who have suffered loss due to a mistake in the register. Rectification of mistakes can be applied […]
