LMS launches enhanced version of pioneering Secure Link® technology
LMS, the UK’s leading conveyancer and panel management specialist, has today announced it has launched an enhanced version of LMS Secure Link® following the success of its initial roll out last year. The new version of the technology will see a huge improvement in the post offer query process for all stakeholders and counts NatWest […]
5-year fixed mortgage rates hit lowest point in 7 weeks
The average five-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen below 6% for the first time in seven weeks, with some lenders – including Santander – cutting rates on certain products by as much as 1.25%. According to research from Moneyfacts.co.uk, the average rate for a five-year fixed mortgage now sits at 5.95%, the lowest figure since […]
Data reveals significant drop in transactions during October
The number of UK residential property transactions dipped by 3% between October and September, new figures released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has revealed. The provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of UK residential transactions in October 2022 is 110,850, some 3% lower than September 2022 – a significant drop in deals month-on-month. It’s important to […]
Government quietly modifies mortgage interest support scheme
One key element of Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement last week has gone under the radar – a modification of the government’s existing Support for Mortgage Interest scheme for Universal Credit (UC) claimants. Contained in paragraph 5.16 of the publication of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is a note on “reforming support for […]
Up your fees and get transactions done faster, agent tells conveyancers
Conveyancers should up their fees, reduce workloads, and get transactions over the line faster in the process, according to one key representative of estate agents. Iain McKenzie, the CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, said that with transaction times longer than ever and the market beginning to quieten, it is vital that both transaction […]
Conveyancing chief struck off after overcharging clients by half a million pounds
A 79-year-old solicitor at a probate and conveyancing firm has been struck off after overcharging clients by over £470,000. George Edward Nosworthy was a principal solicitor for Cree Godfrey & Wood before he was struck off. The Solicitors Regulation Authority became aware of the error in the firm’s accountant’s report in 2019 and intervened in […]
Homeowners warned over spray foam insulation
Difficulty in selling, damages to property, and scammers revealed as potential side effects to the service Homeowners have been warned about the potential dangers and consequences of using spray foam insulation in their homes. Nationwide Building Society have highlighted the potential damage unreputable firms offering the service could cause to homes, as more and more […]
Conveyancers: The key to solving cohabitation disputes?
With UK marriage rate dropping in recent years, an increasing number of young couples choose to cohabit rather than “tie the knot”. With finances stretched due to increases in the cost of living, and salaries not matching that increase, many couples are choosing to live together and, importantly, pool their resources to get a much […]
Utilising existing technology could save conveyancers time and effort
Last week we held a series of member meetings in various buildings around the Old Royal Navy College in Greenwich. Reminders of Britain’s historical past on the high seas are everywhere in that part of London, not least in the form of the Cutty Sark, one of the fastest clipper ships in its day and […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 28th November 2022
You will remember my tale last week about the half-eaten sausage. I saw on Twitter a photograph of what was found under a sofa when someone moved it, which led to a flurry of comments about this particular subject. Well, my lovely lady who found the half-eaten sausage emailed me on Monday to say that […]