6 reasons you should avoid using the HMRC Stamp Duty Calculator

HMRC very “kindly” provide a free calculator on their website, accessible to anyone, to enable the SDLT due on any purchase to be calculated. But is it really fit for purpose, and should law firms be relying on it to calculate this constantly controversial tax on behalf of their clients? Here’s six reasons why we […]
Conveyancing fees: what’s next?

The pandemic property market boom saw house prices and transaction figures explode over the last 24 months. Conveyancers are still feeling the effects, and the party’s not quite over. Naturally, the effervescent market has led to an increased workload and well-documented strain on conveyancers. Have firms raised their fees to cope with the increased workload […]
HMLR practice guide update: July 2022

HH Land Registry (HMLR) practice guide update: PG24 Private trusts of land (PG24) Page summary: Guidance on applications to register transactions involving trustees of land, aimed at conveyancers (practice guide 24). Change made: Section 6.2 has been amended to match the instructions given on form ST5. Click HERE to read further updates from HMLR.
Rightmove HPI: sellers increase by 13% as prices hit sixth consecutive record

The average price of property coming to market sees a sixth consecutive record this month, rising by 0.4% (+£1,354) to £369,968. Rightmove’s latest House Price Index reveals a continuing desire to move, with low numbers of homes for sale driving further price growth even at a time when personal finances are becoming increasingly stretched. Buyer […]
National Trading Standards publishes guidance on Part A Material Information

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has published new guidance to help agents ensure they are meeting their requirements under Part A of the process to improve material information in property listings. The guidance has been developed in partnership with industry leaders and the UK’s major property portals, including Rightmove, Zoopla, […]
Five-day working week eluding burnt out conveyancers

The four-day working week is something of a buzzword in the world of business amid a period of refreshed and revamped working practices. In reality, however, it seems that even the five-day working week is proving too short to fit everything in. Are conveyancers are on course to join the Beatles in reaching Eight Days […]
CLC Risk Agenda highlights key issues for conveyancers in 2022

Cyber-attacks, sanctions, cryptocurrency and anti-money laundering are among the new issues highlighted in the Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ (CLC) second annual Risk Agenda, published yesterday. The agenda brings together a list of the biggest risks faced by the CLC’s regulated community, which emerged during its regular monitoring and inspection work throughout the year. It includes […]
Developers given a month to sign cladding crisis contracts

Greg Clark, new Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), has told developers that they must sign formal contracts to remediate unsafe cladding within the next four weeks. As of mid-June, 47 developers had signed the pledge put before them by former Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The contracts sent […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer; 18th July 2022

There has been more chatter on LinkedIn this week about additional enquiries. There were also postings about why it takes so long for a house sale to complete, and as we all know, additional enquiries are only a small part of that but seem to be the part where everyone feels it is acceptable to […]
The conveyancer’s view: “Please can you pass the laptop charger?”

The conveyancer’s view, 18th July 2022 The 11th July’s Diary of a High Street Conveyancer was a particularly notable entry. Sources of dispute and debate in the property market often make headlines. This issue, however, is one of far greater concern; one that goes right to the core of conveyancing, the fundamentals of their job, and ultimately […]