Are you ready for the Christmas break? Legal firms urged to prepare for rise of up to 26% in calls
Law firms across the UK are being urged to prepare for the Christmas break as Moneypenny’s latest report reveals how calls to the legal sector typically see a dramatic rise. Moneypenny – the UK’s leading telephone answering and outsourced switchboard specialist – looked at call volume figures for the past two years, analysing trends immediately […]
Biggest increase in affordable house building in 22 years
More affordable houses were built in the year ending March 2015 than any year since 1993, according to figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government. There were also more affordable home ownership completions with 16,080 recorded, up 41% on 2013/14. In total 66,640 affordable houses were delivered, which also represents a 55% […]
Veyo saga comes to an end
The long-running Veyo saga has seemingly come to an end, with the Law Society announcing it will make no further investment in the online case management system. At the time of writing both the Veyo website and twitter account have both been made inactive. After a review undertaken by parent company Legal Practice Technologies (LPT), shareholders the […]
SRA backs calls for separation of legal representatives and regulators
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a statement welcoming the Government’s intention to make regulatory bodies independent from representative bodies. The Government intend to consult on separating the roles within the legal profession to “create a fairer, more balanced regulatory regime for England and Wales that encourages competition”. The consultation is intended to launch […]
Are you giving your clients the ‘hole’ picture?
With stories of sinkholes becoming ever more prevalent in the news, it’s imperative that solicitors and conveyancers are assessing the risk of subsidence and relaying this information to their clients. With the latest sinkhole appearing in a residential area of St Albans last month, this is just the latest in a long list that have […]
Home buyers save nearly £2 billion after 2014 stamp duty reforms
Home buyers have collectively saved £1.9 billion since stamp duty reforms in December 2014 according to conveyancers, My Home Move. On average the typical mover has saved £1,500 since the old “slab” system of stamp duty was abolished on 4th December 2014. 87% of estate agents polled by My Home Move believe the change has […]
42% of consumers say conveyancing process is "too complicated and slow" – YouGov
An online poll of 1,314 people conducted by YouGov on behalf of Landmark Information Group has reported that 42% of consumers think the conveyancing process is “too complicated and slow” with only 4% believing it to be quick. Nearly one in four (23%) also believed the process needs modernising, with 37% also wanting environmental information […]
Conveyancer sanctioned by SRA
A conveyancer has been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after signing Land Registry transfer deeds, saying she had witnessed their signature when she had not. Elise Daley currently works at DWF LLP according to her LinkedIn profile, but was working at Chadwick Lawrence LLP between 9th July 2012 and 28th June 2013 when […]
LMS links up with new intermediary network, The Right Mortgage & Protection Network
LMS, one of the UK’s leading conveyancing panel management specialists, has announced a new partnership with The Right Mortgage and Protection Network. The network, which launched in February this year, selected LMS to join its conveyancing panel due to its wealth of expertise working with the intermediary sector and its proven ability to meet the […]
Poole Alcock automates legal processes with Zylpha
Poole Alcock has selected document bundling technology, Adobe eSignature integration and HM Land Registry integration from legal systems innovator Zylpha. As part of the practice’s digital innovation strategy, the development is aimed at both boosting efficiency and driving customer service levels for clients. Established for over 120 years, Cheshire based Poole Alcock LLP provides a […]
Top 1,000 conveyancers race ahead of the competition in Q3 2015
Search Acumen Conveyancing Market TrackerQ3 2015 edition Quarterly growth in transaction volumes among the top 1,000 ranking firms outpaced the rest of the market for the first time this year The five biggest firms lead the way with the biggest quarterly and annual growth Q3 proves the busiest of 2015 to date for total transaction […]
SearchFlow launches enhanced personal search service
Conveyancing search provider, SearchFlow has launched an unrivalled personal search report with unique data insight and intelligent risk analysis to aid compliance and save time spent on due diligence. The new product offers the most up-to-date property search information with a summary interpretation, which is supported with advice outlining the next steps required, along with […]
Ready to update?
After welcoming our new legal clients we’ve been hearing more about phone systems that are out of date and in need of updating. Any out of date system can have adverse effects on business, especially when it is not serving its purpose anymore. Incoming calls are still very important for securing business for your firm […]
Mark McLaren appointed to The Property Ombudsman Council
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark McLaren to the TPO Council. He joins following nine years with Which?, the largest consumer body in the UK. The role of the TPO Council is to ensure the Ombudsman’s independence, set the Ombudsman’s Terms of Reference and approve the budget. Part of […]
Number of mortgage approvals rises for October
The number of mortgage approvals was 69,630 in October 2.2% higher than the average over the previous six months although lower than the number approved in August, according to statistics released by the Bank of England. The number of remortgages approved rose to 39,629 from a six month average of 38,430. Richard Sexton, Director of […]
Bond Dickinson Planning Partner becomes Chair of Compulsory Purchase Association
Richard Guyatt, Partner at leading law firm Bond Dickinson LLP, has been appointed the new Chair of the Compulsory Purchase Association (“CPA”) which he will hold for a 12 month term. The Association is a national organisation representing solicitors, barristers, surveyors, land referencers, planners and forensic accountants specialising in land assembly and compulsory purchase orders […]
CML members to vote on merger proposals
The Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) is set to vote on the recommendations of a review put together by leading banking institutions. The review calls for a merger of five different trade associations to create a “world class trade association”. The Financial Services Trade Associations Review has recommended a merger of the Council of Mortgage […]
Dreaming of a white Christmas
On the run up to December it is almost guaranteed that we will watch a Christmas film at some point. A cheeky glass of something and a giant tin of chocolates in our lap. Whether romantic, sad or funny the films have one common theme. Snow. Our advent calendars, our Christmas cards all depict beautiful […]
Landlords don’t want to deal directly with tenants
The recent AXA Business Insurance research around landlords challenged the stereotype of terrible tenants and penny pinching proprietors. Some of the most common words that participants used to describe their landlords were fair, helpful, responsible and caring. With only 6% classing their relationship as bad or very bad. The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) who are […]
Conveyancing facing "mayhem" as stamp duty hike looms
Harpal Singh, the Managing Director of conveyancing distributor Broker Conveyancing, has warned that the increase in stamp duty for second homes and buy-to-let set to come in at the beginning of April could cause “mayhem” for conveyancers. Any sale not completed by 31st March will be subject to the new 3% charge which could lead […]
