Association Of Accounting Technicians Propose SDLT Reform
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have released statistics highlighting that more that 241,000 first time buyers have benefited from the exemption from paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). The relief, known as First Time Buyers Relief, saved FTBs £144 million in the final quarter, between October and December 2018. The relief was claimed by 60,700 […]
Price Transparency, Consumerist Behaviour And Declining Quality
The price transparency rules, that came into effect in December last year, have been contentious since they were first suggested by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2016. A new Bellwether Report 2019 discussion paper, The Changing Face of Law, by LexisNexis, has highlighted the growing chasm of differing opinions concerning the impact price […]
Solicitor Vacancies Amongst Most Difficult To Fill
A recent UK wide recruitment juggernaut has indicated that they are struggling to fill the job vacancies for many important professions. In particular, recruitment specialists, Indeed, have highlighted that solicitors are now amongst the most difficult jobs to fill in the UK. Amongst the other top three hardest professions to match suitable candidates to vacant […]
Law Society Urge Law Firms To Improve Trainee Salaries
The Law Society has urged all legal firms to adapt their trainee solicitor pay scales so that they fall in line with minimum rates of pay suggested by The Law Society. Following the Solicitors Regulatory Authority’s (SRA) summer release on trainee salaries, The Law Society have suggested that minimum salaries should increase by 2.6% for […]
Conveyancing Association Launch Updated Version Of Cyberfraud & Fraud Protocol
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has today (4th February 2019) revealed a revised fourth version of its Cyberfraud and Fraud Protocol which seeks to provide CA member firms with practical information on how criminals operate and the measures they, and their staff, can take to avoid being victims […]
Pali Celebrates Twenty Years In Business
Doesn’t time fly? Twenty years ago this year I was buying my current house and the transaction was taking forever. I asked my conveyancer what the holdup was and he told me it was the local searches. I had no idea what was involved but after he explained it to me I asked if I […]
CLC Unveils Diversity And Inclusion Review
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has launched a project to support its regulated community in developing more formal measures to promote diversity and inclusion. Dame Janet Paraskeva also revealed plans for a revised Customer Charter and that she has agreed to stay on as Chair of the specialist property law regulator for a second […]
Trade Body Route Provides Japanese Knotweed Guidance
A national trade body is signposting lawyers to a wealth of free advice on Japanese knotweed. The move comes after a Parliamentary inquiry regarding the invasive, non-native plant was held recently at the House of Commons. During the course of the meeting, the Science and Technology Committee was keen to see new information provided, to […]
HMRC Rubber Stamp New Changes On Stamp Duty Land Tax
In less than a month, 1st March 2019, all Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) returns in England and Northern Ireland will need to be filed and paid within 14 days, as opposed to the current 30-day deadline. Time scales will not change in Scotland and Wales at this time. During the Autumn Statement of 2015, […]
Lords Critical Of Current Social Housing Policies
House of Lords representatives believe increased construction, regeneration and re-skilling local authority staff will help solve the increasing housing crisis. At the end of last week (31st January), the House of Lords debated issues around social housing; citing the recent Shelter report that claimed the UK is in desperate need of 300,000 new homes to […]
Housing Prices Fall To Lowest Levels Since March 2018
A recent housing index indicates that property prices have fallen to their lowest level since March last year. According to the Nationwide House Price Index the average UK home is now worth £211,966 compared to £212,281 in December. March 2018 was the last time a lower average housing price could be found when a property […]
CLC Urges Regulated Firms To Protect Themselves From Cyber Attacks
The CLC has urged all the firms it regulates to use the guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre following an incident where a firm’s mail server was hacked and compromised. During the breach, cyber criminals were intercepting all incoming email communications. The hackers then used this sensitive data to send spoof emails, claiming to […]
Willenhall: The Longest Limbo For Residents
Residents living on a housing estate built on contaminated land have endured a 10 year ‘nightmare’ waiting to find out who was responsible for the clean-up. The land in question formed part of the former site of the Willenhall Gas Works, which closed in 1957. The West Midlands Gas Company sold the land to McClean […]
Central Law Training Can Help Maximise The Profitability Of Your Entire Team
With tightening budgets and an ever increasing focus on profit all team members from the most junior to the most senior, must contribute to the ongoing success of your firm. Our two new highly interactive and engaging e-learning courses will provide you with a real competitive advantage through training your staff in a cost-effective way, […]
Lawyer Checker Partner Up With InfoTrack To Reduce Legal Fraud
Lawyer Checker are hosting an enlightening webinar in partnership with InfoTrack to safeguard law firms from becoming a victim of fraud and cyber crime. Cyber criminals are launching more online attacks on UK businesses than ever before. The Cyber Threat to UK Business report notes that firms are under increasing threat from ransomware, data breaches, and […]
Older Borrowers Brings A Suite Of Ten-Year RIO Mortgages
Leeds Building Society has officially launched their suite of ten-year retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgages and made some criteria changes to provide greater flexibility to senior borrowers. The new products include a free standard valuation and a £999 product fee. To meet the product criteria, customers will need to be aged between 55-80 when applying and […]
Housing Minister Announce Stricter Rules On Electrical Safety To Safeguard Renters
The Housing Minister has introduced mandatory rules on electrical safety to protect tenants. The new rules ensure compulsory electrical inspections are being carried out by skilled and qualified electricians in private rented accommodation – offering greater protection for tenants. The new measures demonstrate the Government’s pledge to improve standards in the private rented sector. Designed […]
Additional £497 Million Promised To Affordable Housing Projects
£497 million worth of additional housing funding will be made available to local housing associations this year to create more affordable housing. The money will be used to fund the construction of 11,000 homes within the next three years. Following recent speculation at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ annual conference that more consideration and use […]
