Online conveyancing firm secure investment from LDC
LDC, part of the Lloyds Banking Group, is backing the expansion of eConveyancer, a provider of software for online conveyancing and home buyer search services, with an injection of development capital. The online conveyancing firm, eConveyancer, was established in 2003 and currently boasts a 2% share of the UK online conveyancing market but has managed […]
866% mortgage anyone?
Six solicitors who committed possibly one of the largest mortgage frauds ever carried out in the UK have now gone on trial at Southwark Crown Court. The jury have heard how the fraud was committed by conning banks and building societies into lending almost £50 million for properties that were only worth an estimated £6 […]
Is this the start of recovery for house builders?
The latest NHBC figures for the final quarter of the year have shown that registrations are up 3% on the figures for the same period in 2009, despite the heavy snowfall in December. There is a return of optimism amongst house builders following the consistent number of new home registrations during November 2010 say the […]
Should we name and shame Lawyers over complaints?
As consumers should we be entitled to information pertaining to complaints about service? Take the time to have a look at the following article from Legal Futures regarding the Legal Ombudsman’s discussion paper on its publication policy. http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/oft-and-lsc-join-consumer-groups-in-call-to-name-lawyers-over-complaints Today’s Conveyancer, bringing you the latest conveyancing news and updates.
Do Estate Agency standards need to be revolutionised?
Agent Tracker is the first independent verified review site for estate agents and they say that standards in the industry need to be revolutionised to ensure agents deliver the best possible customer service. An agent that is signed up to Agent Tracker can encourage their customers to leave verified reviews on the site based on […]
GroundSure turns 10
GroundSure has been providing leading environmental intelligence solutions to the UK legal, financial and property markets for 10 years, informing their clients on issues associated with contaminated land, flood risk and planning. GroundSure takes a look back at what has happened since the company was founded. – 2001: GroundSure was created by a group of […]
New measures set to enhance consumer protection in mortgage market
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury has recently announced a package of measures intended to enhance consumer protection in the mortgage market. The new measures will: – Transfer the regulation of new and existing second charge residential mortgages from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), to ensure consistent standards […]
New Conveyancing Quality Scheme members set to raise standards in conveyancing
The new Conveyancing Quality Scheme, according to the Law Society, can play a role in mortgage fraud in England and Wales. The publication of the Nation Fraud Authority’s annual fraud indicator shows the cost of fraud in the UK to be at £38 billion with the mortgage fraud element at £1 Billion. The Law Society, […]
Are Independent estate agents on their way out in 2011?
As a result of a challenging market Countrywide are forecasting the demise of independent estate agencies in 2011. Nigel Stockton, Financial Services Director for Countrywide, recently spoke exclusively to The Negotiator and attributes the decline to yet another year of historically low sales volumes. You can read the full article here: http://www.negotiator-magazine.co.uk/article/countrywide-prepares-for-independent-demise-1636 If independent estate […]
What does it take to be a good locum?
Paul Murden provides locum conveyancing but don’t worry he won’t just “walk away” at the end of an assignment: “People often remark to me that being a locum means that when you finish an assignment you just walk away and forget about it. Nothing could be further from the truth and here’s why: A good […]
How important is a correct file opening procedure?
In the last couple of weeks I have been working with a firm of conveyancers where some things weren’t going as well as they might be. The firm is very proud of its customer service track record and was bitterly disappointed that there was background level of negative comments they were having difficulty eliminating. The […]
GroundSure and The Coal Authority join forces to deliver Enviro All-in-One
Having identified the need for a comprehensive environmental search that would also include a full coal mining report, The Coal Authority, together with GroundSure delivers the Enviro All-in-One. Dr Joe Dearden, Head of Property Search Services at the Coal Authority, said: “the Enviro All-in-One combines The Coal Authority’s CON29M coal and brine mining report* with […]
An enhanced conveyancing service provided by myhomemove
Arguably one of the UK’s largest independent providers of conveyancing, myhomemove, have recently launched what they call a revolutionary new online conveyancing service, e-Way. Myhomemove say that with e-Way they intend to build on their existing conveyancing service by offering a truly unique approach to the conveyancing process, one that makes it both quicker and […]
New ETSOS service helps local agents and conveyancers combat threats.
ETSOS are today launching a free quotation and referral system which will help conveyancers combat the threats they face. The free new service gives all conveyancers an easy to use tool to enable estate agents to obtain quotes, instruct and track progress on conveyancing matters easily. Conveyancers are able to instruct a variety of search providers […]
SRA Consultation period ends 28th February 2010
Following the comprehensive independent review of client financial protection arrangements the SRA are proposing significant changes not least the removal of the single renewal date for professional indemnity insurance for firms from October 2011. There are long term changes also set out for discussion including changes to the Solicitors’ Compensation Fund. You can see the […]
Are you proud of paying referral fees? Would you tell the world how much?
Referral fee payments have been a contentious area for many years that has divided the profession. For some conveyancers the very mention of paying conveyancing referral fees makes the blood boil but for most they are now a main stream acceptable way of acquiring business. Whatever your position we are aware of many firms that […]
SRA warning on identity theft of conveyancers
Every conveyancer faces potential risks every day they do business. Having your business name and identity stolen or passing money innocently to a fraudster that has held himself out as another firm can wreck your reputation and have you thrown off lender panels. The latest advice from the SRA can be read from this link. […]
Public spending cuts impact on Local Land Charge Departments.
Mattthew Joy Director at Conveyancing Data Services has drawn attention to falling standards in land charge departments. In a recent newsletter Joy said “Until recently I would not have thought that the Government’s cuts in public spending had interfered with the Search Industry in any way, however since the start of 2011 there are more […]
Law Society plan consumer drive for CQS
The Law Society has issued a big call to action to conveyancing solicitors. If your application for the CQS is not received by the 28 February 2011 you’ll miss out on your chance to benefit from the PR they plan. The consumer-facing public relations and advertising campaign is due in the spring. The Law Society […]
First Registrations remain high in 2010
Since it became compulsory to register changes in ownership of land and property some time ago you would think that there would be very few First Registration applications being submitted today. However, new figures received by Today’s Conveyancer show the total number of First Registrations submitted to Land Registry offices in 2010 were in excess […]
