RLBA expands amid growing industry demand

Residential Logbook Association expands amid growing industry demand The RLBA is witnessing growing uptake of its members’ services; particularly since the recent Levelling Up White Paper which calls for the use of upfront information and logbooks. To meet the demand, the RLBA confirms continuous growth plans by extending its membership network into different client areas. […]
The Digital Solicitor Podcast

The Digital Solicitor Podcast: “The practical ways innovative software helps improve productivity in your practice” Whether you are embedding a single system to run your firm, improving digital literacy across your team, or harnessing powerful software integrations to help with the heavy lifting, this informative podcast talks about how to form a successful strategy and […]
HMLR practice guide updates – April 2022

HMLR practice guide updates: PG1 and PG39. Also referenced: Practice Direction 51ZB First registrations (PG1) Page summary: Guidance for conveyancers on how to register unregistered estates in land for the first time (practice guide 1). Change made: Section 4.6 has been amended. From 4th April, HMLR will be scanning first registration applications when they receive […]
CLC announces changes to fee collection

The CLC has made changes to the way that fees are collected following a full consultation over the summer of 2021 and approval of the proposals by the Legal Services Board. As a result of these changes, the previous Practice Fee has been split into two charges: The Practice Fee (billed in advance in November […]
New BASPI launches

Trade and representative bodies representing the legal, surveying, estate agency and property management sectors, including the Conveyancing Association (CA), have today (31st March 2022) launched a new version of the BASPI – the Buyer’s and Seller’s Property Information form. The BASPI, developed by the upfront information working group of the Home Buyers and Sellers Group […]
Conveyancers and agents come together for the first time

Conveyancers & agents come together for the first time and pledge to help each other This week saw the first-ever gathering of estate agents and conveyancers determined to improve relations and speed up transaction times for home movers. The ESTAS Forum took place on Tuesday in London at the Grosvenor House, home of the famous […]
MPs advocate SDLT replacement

A group of 18 MPs are advocating a new alternative form of property tax known as Proportional Property Tax (PPT) championed by Fairer Share. The tax would replace Council Tax, Stamp Duty and Bedroom Tax with a “simple flat rate of 0.48% on the current value of your property”. The current Council Tax rates are […]
RICS launches Service Charge Code consultation

Housing association tenants of long leasehold flats and the service charges they pay are to be included for the first time under a revised service charge residential management code. This, alongside other proposed changes are announced as part of a consultation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) launched today. Originally developed in 1997, […]
HMLR accelerates Digital Registration Service

HMLR has announced that it will be moving all application types to the Digital Registration Service this year, including leases and transfers of part, months earlier than originally planned. In November 2022, HMLR announced that most AP1 applications to change the register via the online portal will only be possible through the new Digital Registration […]
Nationwide HPI: prices climb 20% in two years

Nationwide’s February House Price Index (HPI) reveals that annual UK house price growth was up by 1.7% month-on-month, increasing to 12.6% in February, from 11.2% in January. The index also reveals that average house prices now exceed £260,000 for first time, and the price of typical home is now 20% higher than in February 2020. […]