Huge repossession gap between North and South
The difference in housing repossessions has widened to the largest margin in six years with 33% more repossessions in the North than the South. According to the latest research from e.surv 72% of Northern towns have more repossessions than the UK average. The research involved analysis of court-ordered repossessions in the year to Q2 2013, […]
SLC helps firms find their perfect match
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has formally launched a ‘Dating Service’ to bring together law firms that are interested in acquisition (whether being acquired or acquiring) or mergers in respect of their conveyancing business. The society explained that a number of their member practices are well-established firms that are interested in either the opportunities […]
Channel 4 programme exposes in-house agency deals
Last Monday’s Channel 4’s Dispatches programme exposed unauthorised sales practices of staff working for major estate agencies including Countrywide, Connells and Spicer Haart. The programme featured several secretly filmed visits to estate agencies by an undercover reporter posing as a homebuyer. These exposed various ways firms attempted to encourage buyers to use their in-house financial […]
House prices up 5.8% from October 2012
The latest Nationwide House Price Index shows that UK house prices increased by 1% in October, house prices are now only around 7% below 2007 peak. The 5.8% increase from October 2012 shows year-on-year trends are also increasing with September having seen a 5% year-on-year increase. Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, […]
Average house prices continue to rise
September house prices rose 1.5% from August with the average house price in England and Wales reaching £167,063. The latest Land Registry House Price Index showed an annual house price increase of 3.4%. Unsurprising the region that has experienced the greatest increase in its average property value over the last 12 months is London where […]
Mortgage lenders cracking down on “accidental landlords”
Lenders are launching a tough crackdown on “accidental landlords” who let out their own homes without telling their bank. It is thought that in order to avoid a higher interest rate or switch to more expensive buy-to-let loan that large numbers of borrowers are keeping quiet about their arrangements. Borrowers have a contractual obligation to […]
Time to invest in the future?
It is budget time again and most of us have our noses in next years’ financial plans. This time last year we at Legal Eye were planning for 2013 and beyond which was reflected in our budgeting process. We recognised that to meet our future plans and targets we needed to invest time and money […]