InfoTrack Shortlisted for Two Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2016
InfoTrack has been shortlisted for two honours at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2016, named in both the Search Provider and Service Provider of the Year categories. General Manager of Marketing at InfoTrack, Adam Bullion says: “We are delighted to be in the running for two Modern Law Conveyancing Awards. Being shortlisted is testament to […]
Essential CPD Seminar Announced on latest Drainage Guidance for Lawyers
New guidance has been released for lawyers on drainage requirements for new build developments. Recognising the significance of the Guidance, GeoSmart Information is hosting a breakfast seminar for property and planning lawyers at Salters Hall, Central London, on Thursday 9th June. At this breakfast briefing John Bates, together with environmental lawyers and drainage experts, will […]
Thames Water Property Searches’ latest headline CPD event a huge success
Over 80 conveyancers attended our property conference ‘Property Problems and Solutions 2016’, which took place in April at The Law Society, London. Consisting of five hours of CPD, the conference covered a huge range of topical property issues such as managing flood risk, land registry practice, landlord immigration checks on tenants and problem areas arising […]
CLC Reaction to LSB’s Report on the Cost of Regulation
Reacting to the publication today of the Cost of Regulation report by the Legal Services Board Sheila Kumar, Chief Executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers said: “I am very pleased that the LSB’s work on costs of regulation has found that the profession’s views of both the fees and compliance costs of the CLC regime are […]
Land Registry Practice Guide Amendment & April Transaction Data
The Land Registry has recently made amendments to Practice Guide 39, which covers Rectification and Indemnity. This guide is aimed at conveyancers and shows information on how to apply for rectification and compensation which is paid to those who have suffered loss due to a mistake in the register. Rectification of mistakes can be applied […]
Regulation is poor value for money, Solicitors tell LSB
Solicitors regard regulation generally as poor value for money, according to a report by the Legal Services Board. The cost of regulation is also bundled up with other costs of doing business in the mind of the solicitor such as non-legal regulatory requirements and membership of quality assurance schemes such as non-legal regulatory requirements and […]
CMA decries Land Registry privatisation in consultation response
The Competition and Markets Authority have raised concerns over the effects of a potential privatisation of Land Registry. Writing to the Department for Business and Skills’s Lizzie Dixon, the senior director at the CMA says the gobvernment’s preferred model for privatisation is unlikely to deliver the benefits consumers want, the wide access to Land Registry […]
More than 100,000 fewer transactions in April
The number of transactions in April plummetted by over 100,000 compared with March according to statistics released by HMRC. In total, HMRC say there were 70,690 residential transactions for over £40,000 in April, down from 173,430 in March. April saw the lowest number of transactions in three years. Compared to April in 2015, the number […]
Two conveyancing firms settle with SRA over £3 million SDLT avoidance
Two firms who illegitmately avoided more than £3 million in stamp duty each have been fined and rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Norfolk-based Hawkins Ryan avoided payment of at least £3,763,634.47 to HMRC on behalf of its clients and was fined £2,000 as well as being asked to pay SRA costs of £3,636.47 London-based […]
Scam Alert Round up 23rd May
Here are the latest scam alerts issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Fraudulent documents using the name “Williams Morgan” The SRA have been shown a copy of a document received by a memeber of the public which claim to have been witnessed by “Williams Morgan” concerning a transfer of money. The documents, a Will and […]
London Legal Walk 2016
On the 16 May a team from Thames Water Property Searches’ took to the streets of London and joined around 10,000 participants made up of members of the legal profession, business associates and family and friends, to take part in the London Legal Walk. The 10km walk was around some on London’s legal landmarks beginning […]
Q1 conveyancing breaks pre-MMR record as buyers rush to beat stamp duty deadline
Search Acumen Conveyancing Market Tracker – Q1 2016 edition Q1 transactions were 10% higher than the pre-Mortgage Market Review (MMR) surge of Q1 2014 and also up 15% year-on-year Challenger firms ranking 11 to 50 experienced the biggest annual growth The top five firms’ combined market share fell from 8% in Q1 2014 to 5% […]
Land Registry completes 114,425 transactions for value in April
According to newly released statistics, Land Registry completed 1,567,627 applications in April, 114,425 of which were transactions for value, up 14,000 from March. Land Registry say there were 725,585 applications to obtain a coopy of a register or title plan, up around 5,000 from March. There were also 404,747 dealings, up 45,000 from March, when […]
If privatisation helps deliver Land Registry services better it has to be considered
Kris Clark, Head of Product at SearchFlow and has called on the conveyancing profession to make it’s voice heard and to lead the debate on privatisation of Land Registry. Kris has been working in searches for nearly 15 years and also believes that if privatising Land Registry, in the same way water boards, Royal Mail or […]
Legalex 2016
Legalex made a triumphant return to ExCeL London on the 11th and 12th of May and further strengthened its reputation as being the nation’s most important event to focus on the business behind law. Across two days, the event, with its 150 exhibitors providing innovative goods and services, over 150 expert-led seminars, masterclasses, panel sessions, […]
Former Barclays mortgages managing director joins Optima Legal pending SRA approval
Andy Gray, the former managing director of mortgages at Barclays is set to join Optima Legal as a non-executive director, if the move is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Optima is the legal services arm of general outsourcing company Capita. According to Optima, Andy’s role will be to challenge and assist in developing Optima […]
Hundreds turn out for Law Society’s 10km LegalWalk
Legal professionals from all branches of the industry turned out this week for a sponsored walk through London. Fundraisers gathered outside the Law Society’s Chancery Lane building before strolling through the city and returning for food, drinks and entertainment. The 10km walk was in aid of the London Legal Support Trust who assist law centres […]
Law Society’s Graham Murphy warns and advises on CEO fraud
The Law Society’s Graham Murphy says law firms are as vulnerable as every other to CEO fraud if they aren’t vigilant. Graham, who has been Product Manager at the Law Society for a little over two years and previously held senior roles at recruiters Manpower as well as SPG Media, believes firms can fall victim […]
A quarter of law firms are targeted by scammers…don’t let your firm be one of them – Searches UK can help!
Last month The Law Society revealed that nearly a quarter of law firms have been targeted by scammers looking to steel client funds. The research comes from The Law Society’s PII survey, which also disclosed that fewer than 10% of the attempts resulted in fraudsters successfully obtaining the client’s money. Whilst the majority of law […]
How Consumer Protection Regulations affect environmental searches
Location Intelligence experts Groundsure are committed to assisting solicitors with their training especially in light of the new Law Society Practice Note on Consumer Protection Regulations. The Consumer Protection Regulations apply to any ‘business to consumer’ commercial practice, which in our field would be solicitor / conveyancer to home owner (client). These practices apply to […]
