The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has announced the most substantial revisions to the lender handbook in more than a decade
33 sections of part 1 of the handbook (accounting for more than 10%) will see revisions – the most since the second edition of the handbook was launched in 2002. In turn, the CML has instructed all mortgage lenders to update their specific requirements that form the part 2s and have promised that these changes […]
Should your Midlands conveyancing department be looking to invest in the team? (Topic of the Month – West Midlands)
With transaction levels in recent months reportedly reaching the highest levels in seven years, there is certainly scope for conveyancing departments throughout the nation to be looking to develop their service offering and expand their teams. The Midlands area in particular has been a positive boost, and law firms are taking action to remain competitive […]
Topic of the Month: Process Management
Our fantastic monthly topics are still going strong and the focus for news articles throughout December is going to be surrounding Process Management within conveyancing. This is a huge subject in the world of conveyancing, and during the next month we’ll bring you the inside scoop on how to streamline your conveyancing business and improve […]
Beware CML Lenders' Handbook sprung on conveyancers
Happy Christmas to all conveyancers. Lenders have sent you a gift effective today, the CML Lenders Handbook has changed with little notice, at an incredibly busy time and without addressing some of the issues that cause chaos in the home buying process. With only three weeks left to get home movers into their new homes […]
SLC and BLG express serious concerns over Land Registry shortcomings
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) and the Bold Legal Group (BLG) express serious concerns over Land Registry shortcomings which include long delays in registrations that continue to cause problems for Conveyancers and the public. The SLC and the BLG are becoming very concerned over continuing delays in first registrations and registrations of a more […]
myhomemove wins ‘Best Legal Services Provider’ at the Your Mortgage Awards 2014
myhomemove, the UK’s leading provider of mover conveyancing services, has been awarded ‘Best Legal Services Provider’ at the Your Mortgage Awards 2014. The event, which was held on Wednesday 26th November in London, celebrated and commended excellence across the financial services sector. This is the second year myhomemove has received this award, which is voted […]
Land registry caution cancelled and bequeathed farm sold, against the will of family members
A close friend of deceased farmer, Arnold Seals, has been allowed to sell his farm despite challenges from his three children, after a High Court Judge allowed the estate’s first registration caution application to be cancelled. The testator had committed suicide at the end of last year following years of depression after his wife’s death. […]
First-time buyer demand stabilising
October sees 26,500 first-time buyer completions — up 1% compared to 26,300 a year ago Average first-time buyer purchase price climbs 4.1% year-on-year to £152,684 in October Lack of understanding over new regulation: Four in ten buyers think LTI caps mean it is now more difficult to get a mortgage than six months ago The […]
Conveyancer Slater – Tweet of the Week
Hello, I’m a conveyancer. I’m going to take 25 days to somehow not do what took you five minutes to sort out on the phone. #easymoney – M Wüstefeld-Gray (@ACheerfulFairy) November 24, 2014
Beware of bank details scam
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are warning firms to be wary of scammers tricking them into disclosing bank security information over the telephone. Four firms have been targeted this way recently, and collectively have had £2 million taken from their accounts. The scammers gain the confidence of those they call – known as social engineering […]
CML Handbook changes – what to expect
Conveyancing lawyers should note that the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have made some important amendments to their Handbook, which come into force on 1st December 2014. From that date, conveyancers should give their certificate of title based on those revised instructions. You can see a summary of the changes here (http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/handbook). A number of […]
Knotweed
In 19th century Britain Japanese knotweed was introduced as an ornamental plant from Asia, however, due to a lack of natural predators in our environment, it didn’t take long for the knotweed to escape from Victorian gardens and begin its destruction through the UK. Knotweed grows at a rate of up to a metre a […]
An Exciting New Connection
Conveyancing Liability Solutions Limited (CLS) market leading title and chancel insurance providers are delighted to announce that we will be changing insurance capacity providers from Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) Plc to ERGO Versicherung AG for online insurance policies from 18th December 2014. Excellent Financial Strength As with Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) Plc, ERGO is a […]
Council creates fund for Part 2A Remediation Works
It was announced in December 2013 that the DEFRA funded Contaminated Land Capital Grants Scheme would be closed from 1 April 2014. This scheme provided Local Authorities with a means to receive government funding for contaminated land projects as defined under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 19905. This came as little surprise […]
The Angel Islington Blue £100
The Angel Islington is the first blue property and the third cheapest on the Monopoly board priced at £100. The Angel Islington is not a place in London, it is the only property on the board which is a single building, named after the Angel Inn and Hotel on 1 Islington High Street situated in […]
Multilingual property seekers – how well could you advise them?
Due to an expanding demographic, estate agents in London are finding themselves in need of multilingual staff. Our diverse nation is increasingly changing the face of the property market – should conveyancing firms take note? Effective customer service within the property sector, particularly conveyancing, is vital for remaining competitive within the market. With many consumers […]
Japanese Knotweed: ‘One of the most destructive weeds in the UK’
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is one of the most invasive plant species in Britain. It is a hardy, bamboo-like perennial plant that, although quite attractive on first glance, is highly aggressive and destructive. It has been known to block footpaths, grow through concrete, damage tarmac, flood defences and homes1. Japanese knotweed was originally introduced by […]
Haunted Homes
Britain has many outdated and unused laws most probably because there is a long, complex process involved when removing a law from the statute books in Britain. The removal has to be approved at no less than four separate stages, which is why there are many laws which aren’t upheld, practiced or adhered to any […]
SRA launches support for small firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has set out plans to support small firms in a paper released at today’s SRA national conference for compliance officers in Birmingham. Chief Executive Paul Philip used his opening address to the 400 delegates at the conference to launch the discussion about the issues facing small law firms and what […]
AIB Group (UK) plc (Appellant) v Mark Redler & Co Solicitors (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 58
Introduction We welcome again Anis Waiz, solicitor and head of commercial litigation at Curtis Law Solicitors, as he continues his critical review of current case law. Readers may recall this case and will note the case summary 30th January 2012 https://todaysconveyancer.co.ukaib-group-uk-plc-v-mark-redler-co-a-firm-ewhc-35-ch-23-january-2012-cms-912 Whilst this case follows on from a number of high profile claims against solicitors […]
