SearchFlow comments on HMRC’s latest release of UK Property Transaction Data
HMRC has revealed that residential property transactions have increased by 5.5% between January 2016 and February 2016. The seasonally adjusted figure is 16.1% higher compared with the same month last year. The number of non-residential property transactions has increased by 10.9% between January and February 2016, which is 12.7% higher compared with the same time last […]
CLC to cut regulatory fees by 20% by November
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers have announced their intention to cut fees for those it regulated by a fifth with the changes set to come into effect at the beginning of November. According to the CLC, the Financial Statements and the Annual Report published in February show a year of wide-reaching change including the CLC’s […]
Midland based Talbots to leave QualitySolicitors within two months.
Black Country based Solicitors firm Talbots have announced their intention to leave the QualitySolicitors brand after five years of membership. Talbots say they will leave Quality Solicitors in May. The firm also announced £1 million of fresh investment which they say will “strengthen their ability to service the needs of local people and businesses.” Talbots […]
Conveyancers remain vulnerable to fraud with only a third e-verifying client’s identity
Only a third of conveyancers are carrying out electronic AML checks for all transactions reveals SearchFlow, specialists in property intelligence. SearchFlow’s conveyancing sentiment survey reveals that 38% of conveyancers never carry out electronic identity checks to verify the identity of a customer and the remaining29% only sometimes carry out electronic AML checks. The survey also […]
OneSearch Direct release brand new report
OneSearch Direct, the UK’s largest local search data company, has released a brand new report design for Regulated Local Authority Searches. The simplified layout now includes: A well-defined summary page, detailing the most important matters up front Clear interpretation throughout, reducing the need for follow-up questions Colour coded sections, for complete ease of reference An […]
Stamp duty overhaul will boost commercial property market
Stamp duty for buyers of commercial property is to be overhauled under reforms that cut the charges on most transactions but raise them for properties costing more than £1.05m. The reforms come into effect today. However, transitional arrangements will be put into place for buyers who have exchanged contracts but not completed deals by midnight […]
Law Society to consult on client account alternatives
The Law Society is asking for views on possible alternatives to client accounts. The Solicitors Regulation Authority is also expected to consult on the issue as part of its review of the Solicitor’s Handbook later in the spring. Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon said: “The Law Society would oppose any attempt to restrict solicitors […]
Number of transactions for February up 21% on twelve months ago.
94,590 transactions over £40,000 took place in February, up 20.9% on the year before according to HMRC. This is also 10.9% higher than in January. Seasonally adjusted statistics also show a rise, with a 5.5% rise from January to February and a 16.1% rise from February 2015 to February 2016. Between January and February last […]
Mowbray Woodwards appoint new residential property solicitor
A Bath based law firm has added a new residential property solicitor to it’s growing property team. Mowbray Woodwards have appointed Cardiff University graduate Jennifer Clarke fresh from qualifying. Jennifer previously worked as a legal secretary then paralegal in nearby Newport whilst studying for her law degree. She’s also worked in residential conveyancing whilst training, […]
More problems with easements
Michael Moore (Automobiles) Limited v BP Oil (UK) Limited First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber (Land Registration) ref/2015/0174 The complex legal rules pertaining to easements can often cause problems for landowners and conveyancers alike. Although involving commercial premises, this case serves as a reminder to us all of two little known rules. Michael Moore (Automobiles) Ltd (‘Moore’) […]
Conveyancing Association to publish Cyber Security Protocol as police warn on criminals targeting phones for bank details
The Conveyancing Association (CA) is to publish it’s own cyber security protocol to help conveyancers deal with the ever increasing threat from cyber criminals. The announcement comes as Police warn scammers are targeting customers and obtaining bank details through sophisticated call recording vishing scams. According to Action Fraud, fraudsters contact people with a text, letter […]
Land Registry completes 185,139 searches in February
According to newly released statistics, Land Registry completed 185,139 searches in February, down from 186,183 in January, and 199,972 in December. In total there were over 1,552,805, applications, up from 1,422,400 applications in January. This includes 347,578 applications in respect of registered land (dealings), down nearly 4,000 from January and 12,000 from December. There were […]
Scam Alert Round up 21st March
Here are the most recent scam alerts issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Emails claiming to be from “Barr. Moore Blatch LLP” Members of the public have reportedly received emails relating to an unclaimed inheritance. Emails are written in German and come from “lawfirm.mooreblatch@gmail.com” and list phone number 00447452249489, fax 004420131630784 and email “lawfirm.moreblatch@consultant.com”. […]
Good relationships with an estate agent key to winning work say tmgroup
51% of home movers pick their conveyancer purely on the basis of their estate agent’s recommendation, with seven out of ten saying they would go with their estate agent’s recommendation if they could. The second most popular reason was repeat business with 28% of the 5,420 surveyed going back to those they’ve used before, a […]
Double trouble
When is a hack attack an act of terror and which insurance policy should respond?
Stephensons appoint new Head Conveyancer
National law firm Stephensons have appointed a new Head Conveyancer. Yitendra Senghani was previously a company director at London based Pindoria Solicitors and will work from Stephensons’s dedicated London conveyancing team. Yitendra previously led the conveyancing function at his former firm, handling a high volume of transactions. Yitendra said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Stephensons. […]
Is the UK on a slippery slope with sinkholes?
The occurrence of sinkholes in the UK is becoming more and more frequent, and the data suggest that this trend will continue. In early 2014, after a particularly wet winter, scientists recorded a five-fold increase in the amount of sinkholes appearing around the UK1. Fast forward to present day, and after a winter of record […]
Budget 2016: Search Acumen comments on Land Registry privatisation and commercial property stamp duty reform
Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director of Search Acumen, comments on Land Registry privatisation and commercial property stamp duty reform: “After being resurrected in the Autumn Statement, it’s clear that George Osborne is still set on pursuing the privatisation of Land Registry. Today’s Budget leaves us with no further clarity about the options on the table, but suggests […]
Rampion Wind Farm
Wind power is now the world’s fastest growing renewable energy type and Groundsure house a wealth of data on existing, approved and proposed wind farms as well as other energy types.
Stamp Duty reforms beginning to bite at top of market say builders Berkeley
Reforms to stamp duty have hit the high end luxury housing market as hard as the uncertainty ahead of last year’s election, according to developers London and South-east based developers Berkeley. The FTSE 100 listed company published it’s interim management report for the period 1st November to 29th February today and says since the middle […]
