Housing Minister wants to double figures of self-build projects
Grand Designs probably has a lot to answer for but I’m quite sure that most of our prospective clients have dreamt of designing and building their own home at some point in their lives. Grant Shapps is trying to ensure that the figure of 13,000 self-builders who broke ground last year are doubled in the […]
First time buyers at record low
The latest First Time Buyer Review from Halifax, released in December, has reported that First-time buyer affordability is at an 8 year high. The First Time Buyer Review tracks housing affordability in over 240 local authority districts (including 30 London boroughs) across the UK. Why then are first time buyer numbers at the “lowest since […]
Attwaters switch to Peppermint Platform
Attwaters Solicitors, a leading multi-discipline law firm based in both London and Essex, has swapped out the IRIS Aim practice management system in favour of the Peppermint Platform following an involvement with the Peppermint Partner Programme. The new platform is due to be implemented during Q2 2012. An impending merger will see Attwaters double its […]
Review announced to examine investment into private rented homes.
The Governments Housing Strategy has highlighted the range of steps being taken to increase the supply of new homes, and it has been announced by the Housing Minster that there will be a review of the barriers to investment in rented properties. The Review, by Sir Adrian Montague will examine how to encourage greater investment […]
Think Tank warns reform is needed to stop ‘lost decade’ of house building
The Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPRR) has issued a new report warning that the UK is at risk of a “lost decade” of house building unless the development industry is reformed. The report states that the previous 2 house building recessions in 1974 and 1990 both resulted in a “lost decade” of housing […]
Derby Property Lawyers Association AGM
You are invited to the Derby Property Lawyers Association AGM on Monday 6th February 2012. Joanne Jones of the Association emailed us saying "The Derby Property Lawyers Association is just a small group we have. There are just 8 of us on the committee and we try to meet every month just to update each […]
Personal search agents lobby Europe over Land Registry plans.
Conveyancers will long ago have formed an opinion as to whether they are going to only use official local authority searches for their conveyancing due diligence or whether some or all personal local authority searches are acceptable to them from a risk perspective. Personally over the years I have found inaccurate official searches more often […]
Environmental search prices increase
Landmark has put up its prices from the 4th January so we are sorry we are a bit lapse in reporting this as quickly as we would have liked but hopefully better late than never. The price changes published on the One Search Direct website show the following price increases but we understand from other […]
What is happening to senior staff in the search market?
In the last few weeks a number of senior and well known individuals have left search companies to pursue new ventures. The latest of these is James Sherwood Rogers who has since October 2003 headed Landmark. During that period Landmark has grown from just being the supplier of environmental searches that conveyancers know well but […]
HSBC stir up Bold Group members
According to The Bold Group, a national network that represents high street law firms across the UK, the recent launch by HSBC of its new conveyancing panel has resulted in an unprecedented number of calls and emails from its members, all seeking advice as well as an avenue to vent their frustration. Since the announcement […]
Firm announces its appointment to HSBC's conveyancing panel
Devonshires the London based legal practice that is particularly known for its work in social housing has become one of the first firms to publically announce its membership on the HSBC super conveyancing panel. Their website news section this morning posted the following comment: "Devonshires is one of only two law firms in the London […]
OFR application provider partners with Quill
Quill Pinpoint has formed a unique alliance with risk and compliance software provider, Riliance Software Limited, to offer their 600-strong client base an affordable and easy-to-use solution for managing the professional obligations defined within the new SRA Handbook. With recent reminders from the Solicitors Regulation Authority that the outcomes-focused regulation regime demands more than just […]