Bank account fraud on the rise
The Uk’s fraud prevention service, CIFAS, has warned that bank account fraud is on the rise. It was the most common type of fraud recorded during the first four months of 2014 by organisations that share data through CIFAS. Not only has bank account fraud increased 48 per cent from the same period of 2013, […]
TSB offers to pay customer stamp duty
TSB has offered to help homebuyers with the cost of stamp duty. The bank is only offering to pay the stamp duty of buyers who are in the 1 per cent bracket, which is up to £2,500, but customers outside this bracket will benefit from £1,000 cash back. The offer goes hand-in-hand with a selection […]
Client Case Study – Gisby Harrison LLP
Gisby Harrison LLP is a progressive, results orientated law firm advising businesses and individuals across a broad range of worktypes. Ochresoft has been working with the conveyancing team for a number of years and the transformation the department has undergone is testament both to the power of the underlying workflow platform and also the importance […]
Insurance company ERIC declared in default
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared the insurance provider European Risk Insurance Company (ERIC) to be in default and is now accepting eligible claims against them. ERIC was declared in default on 28 April and the FSCS has confirmed that claims may be made by firms and clients within the FSCS eligibility rules. […]
Changes to Land Registry document requirements
From the end of June the Land registry will no longer require original documents to be sent to them in order to change the register of a registered property. The body will instead accept certified copies of deeds or documents sent with application forms from June 30. Applicants can still send originals of documents in […]
Landmark Information Group supports UKELA in raising the awareness of flood in Wales
Natural Resources Wales’s Flood Risk Strategy Manager, Steve Cook, told a meeting of the UK Environmental Law Association, that currently one in six properties in Wales is at risk of flooding. Mr Cook said: “The current number of properties at risk of flooding is likely to increase as we experience the effects of climate […]
Contamination Concerns and Addressing Development Risk
An observant walker can readily pick out sites of historical significance anywhere in the UK; just keep an eye out for the distinct blue plaques and the previously hidden history comes to life. However, determining the risk of the UK’s industrial legacy is a much harder task, more so when the historic site itself has […]
Japanese Knotweed – Understand the risks with the new GroundSure Screening report from PSG
The effects of the plant known as Japanese Knotweed on property are well known amongst conveyancers and surveyors. It can impact on the saleability of a property and its presence can influence a lenders decision even if the plant is seemingly well away from the boundary. It is difficult to eradicate and its complicated root […]
Lender Claims – A Practical Guide for Conveyancers
Anis Waiz, Solicitor and Head of Commercial Litigation at Curtis Law Solicitors, a regular contributor to Today’s Conveyancer, will be speaking at several forthcoming events hosted by MBL. These events will offer practical guidance to conveyancers and solicitors on lender claims. There has been an increase in claims by Lenders who allege breach of trust […]
SRA planning major regulatory reforms
The SRA has announced plans for major programme of regulatory reform, which could see insurers need a financial strength rating. In a move to better the regulation of solicitors and firms, the SRA is consulting on four major areas to implement change in. The first is to enable more multi-disciplinary ABS’s to enter the market […]
House sales rise more than a third
House sales were 34 per cent higher than the previous year in the period between October 2013 and January 2014, according to a new report. The Land Registry’s latest House Price Index for England and Wales showed that sales volumes averaged 74,941 transactions a month, compared to 55,824 in 2012/2013. Completed house sales in January […]
Ombudsman could hold lawyers accountable for stamp duty
The Legal Ombudsman has released a report about Stamp Duty that raises the question of whether HMRC should hold lawyers, not clients, accountable for non-payment of stamp duty. The report, Complaints in Focus: Stamp Duty, found that there is an alarming trend of lawyers failing to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax on behalf of their […]
Labour push letting agent fee ban vote
Labour announced they will attempt to push through a ban on letting agents charging fees to renting tenants, by calling a vote in the Commons. The party is tabling an amendment to the Consumer Rights Bill on Tuesday and leader Ed Miliband said his party was standing up for “generation rent”. Mr Miliband outlined his […]
Leading search company for sale
On Wednesday 7th May Security Research Group plc (the owner of Property Search Group (PSG)) made the following announcement: “Security Research Group plc announces that it is to conduct a strategic review of its options concerning its wholly owned subsidiaries, PSG Franchising Limited and its subsidiaries and PSG Financial Services Limited. These options may include […]
Conveyancing teams missing out on efficiency gains
Conveyancing teams are missing out on simple efficiency gains according to search specialist ETSOS. A recent survey revealed that only 27% of respondents using a case management system (CMS) had their search provider(s) integrated within that system. But with 94% of those reporting improved efficiencies as a result of such integration, it would seem to […]
GroundSure launches UK’s first desktop search for Japanese Knotweed
GroundSure, the UK’s leading environmental data intelligence provider for property professionals, has today launched the first commercially available desktop search report to identify the presence of Japanese Knotweed. This highly invasive species, introduced by the Victorians as an ornamental plant, is now rampant across the UK. It is causing widespread damage to natural ecosystems and […]
Convey Law Appoint New Director
Convey Law have appointed Rob Hosier as their Sales and Marketing Director. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) approved the appointment for the award winning Conveyancing Company at the end of April 2014. Rob Hosier joined Convey Law in 2007 as a Conveyancing Assistant, he was promoted to a Conveyancing Position before an opening arose […]
Strictly legal lawyer takes to the dance floor for St. Rocco’s Hospice
Legal chief Denis Stevenson of Rowlinsons Solicitors is set to swap the court room for the dance floor to help raise much-needed funds for St. Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington. Denis, Senior Director at Frodsham-based law firm Rowlinsons Solicitors, is one of 10 amateur dancers who will participate in Strictly St. Rocco’s glittering sponsored dance competition, […]
Spring Summit 2014
As a reseller of Landmark products for more years than I care to mention, I always look forward to getting together and socialising with the folks that provide my reports. It sadly doesn’t happen very often due to geography so to say that I leapt at the invitation to their Spring Summit is probably not […]
John Pickford announced as new Managing Director of SearchFlow
dmgi::land&property europe has confirmed that John Pickford has been appointed Managing Director of SearchFlow, the UK’s leading conveyancing search provider. Pickford, who is currently at Thames Water, will join SearchFlow in August. He takes up the newly created role of Managing Director of SearchFlow, which was previously part of the responsibility of Marshall King, CEO […]
