My Experiences On Furlough
With the furlough scheme now extended until the end of October and many of us now away from the workplace for an extended period of time, I would like to share my experiences to date as a furloughed employee and offer a few tips that have helped me over the last few months. Before Covid 19 many […]
PM Announces “New Deal” In Wake Of Pandemic
Yesterday the UK waited to see what Prime Minister Boris Johnson would announce in his speech which he made from Dudley, yesterday 30 June 2020. Detailing how the UK will emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, the PM pledged to “build, build, build” to help the economy recover following a long period of stagnation. His speech […]
Search Acumen Comments On Property Market Data
Following the latest data on the property market, which shows a rebound in conveyancing volumes, Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director at Search Acumen, the property data insight and technology provider said: “The latest Property Market Insights report points to a “U” in the market as conveyancing volumes rebound at the end of June to levels last […]
“5 Years of Innovation in the next 18 months” – Part 1
This quote has been rattling around in my head for a few weeks. In the article I read, it was attributed to a production line manager in a Chinese manufacturing plant, working out how she would return her plant to full operation, post COVID. She was contemplating robotics, split shifts, worker segregation, and a myriad […]
Conveyancing Hit Hardest In Pandemic
During a time when many people have had to adapt to social distancing, working from home or being furloughed, it’s safe to say that we all expected a loss in business as the pandemic raged its way through the UK. In an attempt to curb the pandemic, the UK Government put in place a number […]
Rightmove Release Pre-Closing Statement
The property portal Rightmove has released a statement providing a trading update relating from 1 January to 31 May 2020. The portal lay out the steps it’s taking to continue to support agents as the housing market recovery from the pandemic continues. The statement says: “Despite the positive consumer reaction to the re-opening of the […]
BREAKING NEWS: Relaxation In Social Distancing Measures Announced
Changes to social distancing rules in the UK could have a positive impact on businesses, as everyone attempts to get back to ‘normal’ following the coronavirus pandemic. The Government have announced today, that although social distancing needs to continue, the space between people will reduce from 2 meters to 1 meter plus on 4 July […]
Law Society Wants Your Views On PC Fee
Last week, the Law Society has launched their annual consultation with solicitors about their Practising Certificate (PC) Fee. The Law Society has announced that it has reduced it’s share of the fee by 10%, resulting in them receiving less than 30%. This has been driven by the challenges faced by solicitors and firms as a […]
Predictions That Buyers Will Look For Green Suburban Areas
Latest Research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has shown that surveyors are predicting that buyers are changing their preferences in the properties they are looking for, and that there is evidence the property market sentiment is improving. The Residential Market Survey taken out in May by RICS found that new buyer enquiries […]
Today’s Conveyancer Weekly Market Sentiment Survey
The results of this week’s market sentiment survey are in. Thank you to everyone who has taken part. To take part in this week’s survey please CLICK HERE Overall sentiment suggests that the market is no longer on its way down, with 83% of respondents indicating their transaction volumes are either staying the same or […]
Ask An Expert: Katrine Sporle, The Property Ombudsman
The coronavirus has caused huge ripple effects, changing what we all mistook for normality. At least for the time being. Firms have had to adjust to a number of factors, including furloughing staff and working from home, all whilst navigating their way through this unprecedented time. Will this new ‘normal’ replace the old way of […]
Property Market Bounce Back Should Be Treated With Caution
Since the lockdown in March, the property market has seen dramatic changes; Rightmove reported a fall of 40% in visitors at the time of the lockdown, estate agents having to offer virtual tours and house sale dropping by more than half in April, compared to March. However, following the relaxation in restrictions, allowing property viewings […]
Ask an Expert: Victoria Simpson of Apply Compliance Today
Law firms should be taking the opportunity to conduct compliance reviews now to ensure they are ready for the end of lockdown say Victoria Simpson, of Apply Compliance Today. During Lawyer Checker’s latest Ask An Expert Victoria answered questions posed by attendees alongside Lawyer Checker’s Tom Lyes. In an entertaining discussion Victoria highlighted how law […]
Third Still Homeless Despite Local Authority Intervention
Over a third of all people who appealed to their local authorities about a need for housing are either still homeless or have become homeless due to a worrying lack of council housing. The housing charity Crisis has called for the government to ensure more social housing is available after a report of over 984 […]
UK House Building Output Demand Revealed
People living alone and growing numbers of young people living with their parents, because they don’t have the funds for their own place, have been attributed to a massive demand for homes to be built. Locality and size of new homes being built has been a big source of debate as figures reveal that 247,000 […]
Retired Homeowners Property Wealth Bounces Back
Retirees have experienced a property wealth increase of thousands in the past 12 months. An analysis of the UK’s leading independent equity release adviser, Key’s data revealed that older homeowners have enjoyed an increase of more than £3,150 in the past year. According to Key’s Pensioner Property Equity Index, the over-65s cohort total property wealth, […]
What Should An IT Department Do In Relation To Cyber Security?
UK law firms are now starting to realise that responsibility for cyber security doesn’t just lie within the IT team, and that technical controls alone can’t protect a business from today’s attacks. I often see the phrase ‘cyber security is a people issue not an IT issue’. It’s true that this needs to be a […]
Older Homeowners Require Stamp Duty Relief
In their quest to stay in their much-loved homes, 80 per cent of over 55s chose an equity release mortgage. According to new research from Standard Life and Age Partnership, this high percentage of over 55s opted for equity release so they did not have to downsize. Another reason for not downsizing was the costs […]
CA Annual Conference Focuses On Future For Conveyancing Firms
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has used its Annual Conference to urge member firms to be prepared for significant changes in the future and to consider how their model might need to develop or evolve to cope with these changes. The Conference, which had the theme ‘Conveyancing 2025 […]
HMLR Changing Email Address Domains For DMARC Implementation
HM Land Registry (HMLR) are warning property stakeholders that their email address is set to change. From March 2nd, HMLR email domains will change from @landregistry.gov.uk to @mail.landregistry.gov.uk. The address is changing so HMLR are able to use Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) – a system which helps prevent email spoofing and impersonation. […]
