Sentiment Survey: Don’t Forget To Have Your Say
Today’s Conveyancer wants to understand the market sentiment each week to provide a clear view of the conveyancing sector. Click here to complete our latest survey and help keep our sector informed. Last week, our survey revealed that although there was optimism in the sector, the market had shrunken considerably, but things were improving. The […]
BREAKING NEWS: Flexible Furlough Scheme Announced
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, has this evening, Friday 29th July, announced that the furlough scheme will now become flexible, helping businesses to bring back some of those employees that they placed on the job retention scheme. All of this is with the aim of helping the UK economy bounce back after the corona […]
BREAKING NEWS: Guidance Issued For Conveyancers
On the 13th May the Housing Secretary announced plans for the UK to re-open the housing sector. In light of this, today there has been Cross-Industry, sector specific, guidance issued to provide conveyancers with information to keep property transactions moving in line with the Government advice relating to COVID-19 and the new usage of the […]
Tens Of Thousands Of AP1 Registrations Awaiting Processing
The recently published ‘number and types of transactions for value’ released by HM Land Registry (HMLR) suggest that HMLR failed to complete applications anywhere close to the average in April. Overall, the data indicated that just 440 AP1 applications on transfers for value were completed last month. In contrast, despite lockdown impacting the property market […]
Conveyancing Association Issues Sector-Specific Guidance For Conveyancing Firms
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has today issued newly-published sector-specific guidance for conveyancing firms in order to support Government plans on reopening the housing market, enabling people to move safely. The collaborative sector guide sets out how the legal aspects of home moving can take place while complying […]
Riding The Leadership Learning Curve During A Pandemic
I suspect that for any new role, 33 years should be ample preparation. But taking over as the Senior Partner of DM Hall, one of Scotland’s leading independent firms of chartered surveyors, on 1 January 2020 now somehow feels like having been unceremoniously dropped in at the deep end. Most of my first 11 weeks […]
Movers and Shakers – 29 May 2020
Here at Today’s Conveyancer, we wanted to share with you the good news we’ve had within in the industry of professionals joining firms and those who have moved up the promotional ladder. This week we’ve seen the following announcements with regards to appointments and promotions: Alan Rubenstein – has been appointed the NHBC Chair Natalie […]
Evalaution Of Post-Crisis Regulatory Changes Could Help Post-Covid Recovery
New research suggests that post-financial crisis regulatory changes have severely restricted many first-time buyers from climbing on to the property ladder over the past decade. According to the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association’s (IMLA) ‘First-time buyers: is the growth sustainable’ report, the government should look to ease many of these restrictions to help more first-time buyers […]
Further Ease On Lockdown Measures Announced
Tonight, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that the Government’s Five Tests regarding the corona virus have been met, meaning that some more lockdown measures have been lifted. The announcement today enables a group of 6 people in England to meet in gardens and other private outdoor spaces from Monday 1st June. Social distancing is still […]
Has There Ever Been A Better Time To Start Up A Law Firm?
The thought of setting up a new law firm during a global pandemic may seem irrational, cavalier and high risk. However, in such a world-changing event, as with any global crisis, the winners will be those who adapt the quickest and realise the change rather than resist it. To paraphrase Charles Darwin, it is not […]
Is Now The Best Time To Release Equity From Your Home?
After over 20 years working in the equity release market I am more than conscious of the perception of equity release and the often propounded view that equity release is the “option of last resort”. Whilst I fully appreciate that equity release should never be considered as a first or only option for borrowers it […]
Chains Are Starting To Complete Once Again
Wednesday Today was particularly exciting – well in the world of a conveyancer it was! I had a chain complete! I have only had one chain complete during lockdown and I had forgotten the wait for that email from the buyers’ solicitor to say that the monies were on their way, checking the client account […]
Changes To ‘Open House’ Viewings
The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly thrown a lot of things up in the air with regards to the ‘normal’ way we do things. It’s also had an impact on the UK economy, forcing organisations across a variety of sectors to change the way they conduct their day to day business. For the property market, this […]
Human Error Outweighs Cyber Security Threats
As the world begins to change, and we all start to adapt to life after lock down, there are probably lots of things people are starting to consider. Personal issues, such as sending children back to school and starting back at work are things that cross most people’s mind. Will the environment be safe enough […]
Alan Rubenstein Appointed NHBC Chair
The leading warranty and insurance provider for new build homes, the NHBC, has announced the appointment of Alan Rubenstein as new Chair. Currently serving on NHBC’s board as a nonexecutive director, Mr Rubenstein undertakes his new role with over thirty years’ experience in the insurance and investment banking sectors. Alan Rubenstein, incoming Chair of the […]
Diary Of A Highstreet Conveyancer – Tuesday May 26
Tuesday The joy of being a conveyancer is that no two days are the same. It does mean that we always have to be organised because you never know when that transaction which is moving along smoothly suddenly becomes the most difficult case at that time. And the transaction which you thought would be around for […]
Market Enjoys Busiest Day Since Lockdown
The property market enjoyed its busiest day yesterday since lockdown was introduced. Purchase mortgage search volume was 25 per cent higher yesterday than any other time since lockdown restrictions were introduced, according to Twenty7Tec mortgage data. Overall, mortgage search volume has increased by 11.89 per cent when compared with the same day last week, up […]
Today’s Conveyancer Sentiment Survey: Market Improving Slowly
The majority of conveyancing firms surveyed by Today’s Conveyancer last week believe the market has shrunk to below 50 per cent of what it was at this time last year. Today’s Conveyancer wants to understand the market sentiment each week to provide a clear view of the conveyancing sector. Click here to complete our latest […]
Ask An Expert: The Green Shoots Of Post-Lockdown Recovery
In our recent Ask an Expert series, Chris Harris interviews Rob McKellar, Head of Practice for Residential Conveyancing and Head of Strategic Growth for Consumer Legal Services at Slater & Gordon Lawyers. The pair discuss the reopening of the property market and the impact this is having on residential conveyancing. Slater & Gordon recently enjoyed […]
Take Care Now To Avoid Claims Later
Conveyancers must take particular care to follow Government and Law Society guidance in order to avoid the risk of claims, or even regulatory action brought by the SRA, once the pandemic is over. As a firm that regularly defends solicitors who are the subject of claims and disciplinary proceedings, we anticipate that the hazards of […]
