SRA back on hunt for price transparency rule breakers
Following the end of the Coronavirus related hiatus on disciplinary action, the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) is once again looking at firms who flout the price transparency rules. At the start of this week, Paul Philip, Chief Executive of the SRA provided his monthly update to the board and outlined the steps the organisation were […]
SRA disclose a flurry of email scam alerts in days
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have issued eight separate email scam alerts impersonating law firms in a matter of days. All eight scams were reported on 5th, 6th and 7th October where emails had been falsely claiming to be from a law firm or an individual working for the business – with four of them […]
HMLR discuss the developing use of eSignatures
Adopting technology and taking the leap has always seemed to be a tricky thing to implement in the legal sector, especially in conveyancing. Since July 2020, HM Land Registry (HMLR) started to accepting electronic signatures on conveyancing deeds, removing the last strict requirement for paper and wet-ink signatures in the conveyancing process. Naturally with the […]
Advice for conveyancers: hosting online meetings
When the UK first went into lockdown during March 2020, a huge emphasis was placed on the importance of online meetings. The business community as a whole had to quickly become comfortable with appearing in front of a camera. Not only that, but we also had to become accustomed to the fact that normal life […]
SRA publishes latest business plan with key priorities
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced the publication of it’s latest 2020-21 Business Plan which outlines their primary deliverables and key areas of work for the next 12 months. Prior to the publication of the plan, a consultation process was carried out earlier in the year which saw more than 10,000 people have their […]
Conveyancing Standards Bill passes first reading
A 10 minute rule motion was read in Parliament today by the Conservative MP for Dudley North Marco Longhi, in which a proposal for a “Conveyancing Standards Bill” was formally discussed and passed its first reading without opposition. The ten minute rule allows a backbench MP to make a case for a new Bill in […]
2m more homeowners thanks to PMs pledge
At the Conservative Party’s national conference, Prime Minster Boris Johnson revealed that he will bring forward proposals to introduce a fixed-rate long-term 95% LTV mortgages to enable first time buyers (FTBs) to get onto the property ladder. Getting more FTBs onto the property ladder was part of Mr Johnson’s 2019 manifesto promises when he ran […]
Conveyancer sued for £4.6m
A conveyancer is now being sued by a former client for £4.6m, eight years after the working relationship had concluded. Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring bought a mews house in Kensington, London in 2012 and planned to convert it into a residential property with a double basement and swimming pool. The property was previously used as an office. […]
Flooding: Out of Sight should not mean out of Mind
It would be very tempting to think that after the sunniest spring and summer on record for many, together with some of the lowest rainfall totals, 2020 has been, at least weather wise, remarkably calm. But we so often have short memories. We take a look back at the year so far and as conditions […]
Right now, conveyancers across the country are flat out, if not burnt out
While it’s great to see the property market booming and our industry thriving, every conveyancer I speak to informs me that they overloaded with work right now. Considering we are the highest qualified and regulated part of the property eco-system, when comparing our stress levels and risk factors with those of estate agents, surveyors, mortgage […]
Indemnity Insurance and the Stamp Duty Land Tax Discount
Conveyancing can be a long and complicated process, and ‘the unexpected’ is always ready to throw a spanner in the works, often at the worst possible moment. Transactions and completions are often delayed by varying factors, such as delayed search results and lack of planning or building regulations permissions and approvals. The Stamp Duty Land […]
Lifetime Legal selects SearchFlow’s Continuity Property Solution
SearchFlow – the UK’s largest provider of legal due diligence data for residential and commercial property transactions – has announced that Lifetime Legal has adopted its innovative Continuity Property Solution to provide its panel with a viable alternative to traditional search packs, and therefore speed-up the overall residential conveyancing process. With property searches currently taking […]
Parker Bullen defies Pandemic and takes on two new legal trainees
Law firm Parker Bullen, which has offices in Salisbury and Andover, has not let the Covid 19 pandemic get in the way of its commitment to support aspiring lawyers by offering two new training contracts to Rachael Munn and Luke Wilkins. The appointments follow on from last month’s trainee successes, where Parker Bullen staff members, […]
Expert predicts a ‘fraught and messy end’ to the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday
A residential property expert is warning of a ‘fraught and messy end’ to the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday next March, amid a growing waiting list for local authority official searches and delays of up to two months. Kate Bould of Index West Midlands, which works with property lawyers and conveyancers, says house buyers and […]
Lawcare Launches Ground-Breaking Research Study ‘Life In The Law’
Legal mental health charity LawCare has announced a new ground-breaking research study ‘Life in the Law’ ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10th October. The charity has teamed up with leading academics in the field Dr Emma Jones (University of Sheffield), Professor Richard Collier (University of Newcastle), Caroline Strevens (Reader in Legal Education, University […]
Interview: Talking Innovation With Tom Backhouse, CEO At Terrafirma
Tom Backhouse, CEO at Terrafirma is interviewed by David Opie of Today’s Conveyancer… We know the property sector has taken off in the last 6-8 weeks… has Terrafirma seen a similar rise in volumes? Like so many we had a great start to the year and then all of a sudden, we were hit for […]
Today’s Family Lawyer Re-Launches
We are pleased to announce that from Monday 12 October our sister publication Today’s Family Lawyer will be re-opening after being hibernated due to the coronavirus pandemic. The publication offers an overview of family law from a law and personal perspective. Respected as a source of reliable advice and information, it is published online and […]
Stuck In A Box? The Truth About Incorporating Your Portfolio
The recent Stamp Duty holiday, temporarily increasing the nil rate band for residential purchases, has resulted in a further wave of property owners considering the merits of incorporating their buy-to-let portfolios. The reason being that whilst there still will be the 3% surcharge to pay by the acquiring company on incorporation, this 3% is overlaid […]
Convey Choice: Your Digital Conveyancing Concierge Is Here To Help!
As a leading provider of expert conveyancing services, we are delighted to announce further developments to our already expansive range of digital conveyancing services. As part of our promise to deliver the most-cutting edge digital service, and with help from our partners in the CLS group, we have been working tirelessly to bring you further […]
Record High Volume For Onesearch Direct As Market Recovers
OneSearch Direct, the largest local search data company in the UK, has reached its highest peak quarter since the abolishment of HIPs in 2010. In September 2020, the property data provider processed 93% more regulated local authority searches and an astonishing 127% more drainage & water reports than in September 2019. Celebrating another milestone, OneSearch […]
