Search Acumen comments on the HMRC Number of Property Transactions, June 2016
Andy Sommerville, Director of Search Acumen, comments on the HMRC Number of Property Transactions, June. “The year on year deterioration in residential transaction figures in June, which today’s HMRC data shows, will not come as a surprise to stakeholders in our industry. After the pre-April spike in activity, we now continue to see the stamp […]
SearchFlow responds to HMRC transaction data, June 2016
HMRC transaction data reveals today the number of residential property transactions increased by 4.9% between May 2016 and June 2016. Greg Bryce, Managing Director at SearchFlow, comments: “The figures indicate a slight increase in the transaction level despite the uncertainty during the run up to the referendum. And whilst this is 10.2% lower than the […]
Build trust with potential clients to win more business
Clients can be particularly cost-conscious during periods of economic uncertainty. In the wake of Brexit, it’s timely to arm yourself with the skills to have open and honest payment conversations with clients, so that you get paid what you’re worth at the end of the transaction. In my experience, the solution is to build trust […]
Search Acumen comments on the ONS/Land Registry House Price Index, May 2016
Andy Sommerville, Director of Search Acumen, comments on the ONS/Land Registry House Price Index, May 2016 “UK average house prices increased by 8.1% in the year to May 2016, according to the latest House Price Index from the ONS and Land Registry, revealing continually strong growth in the housing market in the pre-Brexit climate. So […]
Brexit – the movie?
Sam Cherry of Legal & Contingency shares his overview of Brexit and how the market has been reacting.
Building a Profitable Conveyancing Practice
I’ll start this by saying that probably the chief benefit for residential conveyancing is the ability to form relationships with people which, if correctly managed, will help to secure the future of the firm. I’ll be talking in a later blog about how to do that (it is actually quite easy…I built my practice and […]
Disapplying a restriction
Evans v Stoneleigh Pavilions (Birkby) Ltd [2016] EWLandRA 2015_0343 (11 February 2016)
An Insidious Threat: The rise and rise of ransomware
Fraudsters are remarkably adept at escaping fraud prevention methods you put in place, particularly when large sums of money are at stake. Only one or two law firms need to be duped to ensure cyber criminals walk away with millions. Every single firm is vulnerable to cyber attacks which can take many different forms, however […]
The importance of title insurance
Stewart Title’s Commercial Business Development Manager, Robert Kelly, was at Legalex in May giving a talk on the dos and don’ts of insurance from the conveyancer’s point of view – something he’s in a unique position to understand, as he spent 25 years as a commercial and residential property lawyer. He told Jane Common at […]
5 tips for profitable conveyancing
Have you turned away conveyancing work because it’s not delivering profit? Is the time and hassle involved in accurately preparing documents in your current case management software a barrier to accepting the work? If so, it’s time to seriously reconsider conveyancing work. This multi-billion pound industry is slipping away from the small law firms who […]
Searches UK comment on how Brexit may affect the property market
The result of last month’s referendum surprised many people, both in the UK and overseas, and whilst it raises questions about the direction in which Britain is headed, Searches UK considers the affects to the property market and how this may affect solicitors, conveyancers and homebuyers. There is speculation about what will happen next, be […]
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 […]
22% drop in home buyers looking for conveyancing quotes in wake of Brexit vote
A house moving comparison site says the number of requests for conveyancing quotes fell by 22% in the wake of the vote to leave the EU. According to ReallyMoving.com, the impact of Brexit on house buying behaviour has been dramatic and immediate, both on expected property prices and on transaction volumes. Based on 8,500 registrations […]
Martin Cheek on money laundering, cybercrime and what estate agents need to do to help
According to Martin Cheek of Smartsearch UK, estate agents are the biggest risk in the property buying process when it comes to money laundering, and that whilst conveyancers might be on the ball, their counterparts are far from on the ball. The Smartsearch MD has been in anti-money laundering for years and recently spoke to Today’s Conveyancer’s […]
Conveyancing Data Services Director reacts to Brexit
CDS Sales & Marketing Director, Matthew Joy predicts the Brexit decision may be best in the long run.
ABS firms often “more innovative” according to LSB report
Alternative Business Structure firms are more innovative than their more traditional colleagues according to a report on changes in the legal services market by he Legal Services Board. The report also states more consumers are handling legal matters alone rather than seeking advice with analysis putting this down to better technology enabling online probate applications. […]
Bringing brownfield sites back to use. Remediation of contaminated land
This is the first instalment in a series of blog posts which will present different remediation technologies for cleaning up contaminated sites and examples of their implementation in the UK.
Richard Garland of OneSearch on his first six months at the company, finding new ways of working for lawyers and pricing
Today’s Conveyancer recently spoke to OneSearch Direct’s Richard Garland on his time in the industry, how legal professionals can meet the challenges of accelerating change in technology whilst best serving their clients, and what OneSearch can do to help. Richard has been working in the legal industry since 2014, having been a regional sales director for […]
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 […]
Industry reacts to vote to leave the EU
The value of the pound as well as shares in the UK’s major house builders are in freefall after the UK voted to leave the European Union. While Prime Minister David Cameron has stated Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, which starts the two year countdown on leaving, won’t be triggered until at least October, […]
