Charity begins at myhomemove
Conveyancers from the conveyancing firm, myhomemove, managed to conquer Ben Nevis, an ascent of 4,409ft, to raise money for the Peristera Children’s Home in Sri Lanka, a safe refuge for 41 abandoned children. The 15 climbers, with a great team spirit, overcame adverse weather conditions at the summit and safely reached the top, raising over […]
Former CEO of Countrywide launches online conveyancing service
In-Deed, an online residential conveyancing service, has been founded by Harry Hill, the former CEO of Countrywide and founder of Rightmove. For 20 years Harry stood at the helm of Countrywide and saw first hand the stresses that the conveyancing process brought for his customers. Convinced that there was a better way he went on […]
Are brokers burying their heads in the sand?
A survey carried out by law firm Goldsmith Williams has revealed that 76 per cent of brokers, sampled from Goldsmith Williams’ database, were completely unaware as to what an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) is, leaving them unable to take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented. A sizeable proportion of brokers, 63 percent, did […]
SearchFlow gets new corporate identity
Yesterday saw Decision Insight Information Group, formerly the Property Information Division of MDA Corporation, announce that they are to unite nine of its companies under a new global brand and identity. All of the companies will continue to provide risk management and due diligence solutions within the property industry across the U.S., Canada and Europe, […]
Technology revolution desperately needed in conveyancing industry
Clear, who recently won the Best Conveyancing Technology Award at the Property Professional Show 2011, have launched a new software based product that they say will take conveyancing into the 21st century, citing that they have developed the online software conveyancing system so that it is “fast, easy to use and more profitable for solicitors”. […]
Balance between house purchase and remortgage lending shifts
According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders the scale between purchase and remortgage lending shifted towards remortgages at the beginning of 2011 with over a third of all lending in Q1 accounted for by remortgages. Loans advanced for house purchases in March increased by 24 per cent but whilst this is a considerable increase compared […]
Property Law Summaries available for May
Below are the summaries for the latest Property Law UK update: Easements Section 62 – user required: In order to establish that an easement has been created under s62 of the Law of Property Act 1925 it is necessary to establish that there was actual user of the putative servient land by the putative dominant […]
Serious conveyancers hear that CQS is a last chance saloon for conveyancing profession
Last week at the Conveyancing Association Summer Reception Eddie Goldsmith introduced the Conveyancing Association as a collection of the “serious” conveyancers in the country that wanted to differentiate themselves from the rest by their quality of work. With a membership of 45 firms which has grown from 19 members last September Eddie Goldsmith described the […]
ETSOS shortlisted for more awards than any other company at PPS
Online property services provider ETSOS were, despite having only being launched 12 months ago, recently recognised with nominations in four different categories of the PPS Awards, announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last week. ETSOS were nominated for: Best New Estate & Letting Management Solution Best Agency Technology Award Best Conveyancing Technology Best […]
Land and New Homes Department expansion for LSL Property Services
Having seen a significant rise in the number of land banks during the last 18 months LSL Property Services, who are anticipating a further increase in activity, are launching a new homes and land website. Following an increase in their spending on this division LSL are also now looking to treble their workforce in order […]
Staggering Rise in Practice Abandonment figures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has released a summary of performance measures and statistics to March 2011 showing an increased level of abandonment allegations having been received. Abandonment of Practice reports are now at their highest level since 2008 with 94 reports being filed in Q1, a staggering 49 per cent increase, from 63 for Q4 […]
First time buyers at highest levels for 12 months
The latest Rightmove report, which captured the opinions of 26,240 consumers between 4th and 18th April 2011, shows a jump in the levels of intending first time buyers to 26.2 per cent, in Q1 the figures were only 22.8 per cent. The report also finds that those expecting prices to be higher in the next […]
Get ETSOS on the move
ETSOS have announced that their online services are now available in a mobile version, namely iPad, iPhone and Android, and the new formats are to be launched at the Property Professional Show (PPS) in London. Phillip Natusch commented: “We recognise that for many of our customers their phone is equivalent to their office so this […]
Conveyancers at risk of fury from home buyers
According to Searchflow conveyancers are said to be risking ‘buyer fury’ if they do not fully appreciate the impact that High Speed 2 (HS2) will have on property values along its route, commenting: “Local authorities are only identifying properties within 200 metres of the route, placing conveyancers at risk of fury from home buyers unwittingly […]
Conveyancing Quality Scheme sees 100th accreditation
The Law Society have confirmed that they have accredited their 100th firm under the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), with hundreds more firms still awaiting assessment. Bournemouth firm, Coles Miller Solicitors LLP, have become the 100th member firm since the scheme was launched back in January this year. According to the Law Society the first 100 […]
Concern over fraud and negligence of conveyancers
In the CML’s Annual Report 2010 it is stated that “Lenders and home buyers rely on conveyancers, but there have been mounting concerns about fraud and professional negligence”. The majority of conveyancers are honest and provide a reliable service but, as with any profession, there will always be ‘cowboys’ who potentially ‘ruin’ the good name […]
Rightmove review the impact of the First Buy on the second hand homes market.
Exactly one month on from the announcement in the budget of the Government’s First Buy scheme to help first-time buyers, research from Rightmove reveals what impact the scheme looks set to have on first-time buyer numbers and the wider property market. This will in turn impact on who will be buying conveyancing services from whom […]
Law Society’s CQS backed by Legal Ombudsman
The Law Society’s new home buyer quality mark, the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), is receiving the backing of the Legal Ombudsman in their commitment to ‘drive up standards in the home buying market’. The Legal Ombudsman, the complaints body for the legal profession, say the scheme, which opened for applications in January, has ‘a strong […]
Land Registry considers opening up competition for provision of Local Land Charges service business.
In a move that may generate further competition in the searches market the Land Registry has confirmed that it is exploring the possibility of developing its range of information services to include searches of the Local Land Charges Register and other information currently supplied by local authorities. Land Registry has stated that "Market research and […]
Firms rush to announce their CQS endorsement.
With the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) announcing their full endorsement of the CQS, stating that it sees the scheme as becoming a ‘prerequisite’ for membership to lenders’ panels, firms are keen to announce their involvement and protect their lender panel status. Firms are also keen to use the CQS mark to demonstrate the quality […]
