HMLR Practice Guide updates: PG11 and PG37

HM Land Registry has released details of changes to two practice guides. Inspection and application for official copies (PG11) Page summary: How to apply to inspect or obtain official copies of leases and charges referred to in the register (practice guide 11). Change made: Sections 4.1 and 6 have been amended to clarify we will […]
‘Pricing war’ between lenders on horizon as mortgage rates begin to fall

A “pricing war” may break out between mortgage lenders over the coming months as they try to win business, it has been suggested. This comes as mortgage rates have already began to slip in previous days. Indeed, according to Rightmove’s latest mortgage tracker, the average five-year fixed mortgage rate now sits at 5.79% having been […]
60% of UK homeowners say tech can tackle the home buying admin burden

Greater digitisation could alleviate the admin burden around home buying, according to new research from risk management platform Thirdfort. Nearly two-thirds of UK homeowners say providing paper documents to a property professional such as an agent, broker, lawyer or lender would benefit from being digitised. Meanwhile 62% suggested providing ID documents to a property professional […]
Key property sector figures to quiz HMLR chief in new podcast series

Key leaders and influencers from across the property sector are set to discuss the changes needed within the property sector with HM Land Registry (HMLR) Chief Mike Harlow in a new podcast series. The new podcast – Property with a View – has been launched by the Digital Property Market Steering Group (DPMSG). The programme […]
1 in 5 sellers admit ‘covering up’ property problems during viewings

One in five home sellers admit to having “covered up” problems with a property during the viewing process, new research has revealed. What’s more, more than one in 10 (13%) have avoided showing a particular room to potential buyers during the viewing process, while 19% admitted to steering them away from a particular view they […]
HIPs ‘absolutely essential’ to improve speed and efficiency of transactions, says tech provider

A provider of upfront information (UFI) technology has said Home Information Packs (HIPs) are “absolutely essential” to solve the “perpetual issues of inefficiency and snail-paced processes” affecting the housing market. While Ed Molyneux, co-founder of Moverly, concedes “you’d expect [him] to say that”, he also points out that a recent survey suggests “the vast majority […]
Andrew Tucker, CEO of Irwin Mitchell, passes away

National law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced that its Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Tucker, passed away last Wednesday following an “unexpected illness”. Tucker had been part of Irwin Mitchell for nearly 40 years, joining the firm in 1985 and becoming a Partner in 1988. He was appointed to the role of Group Chief Executive […]
I. Stephanie Boyce: Mind over matter

We read daily of inflationary court backlogs, crumbling court infrastructure, legal aid deserts, lack of court staff. The number of those seeking legal advice has increased, but this has not been matched by the resources needed to deliver justice promptly for those turning to the justice system. In addition, the aftermath of the recent global […]
Mortgage approvals forecast to fall 11% this year – report

New data has revealed that mortgage approval levels are forecast to decline by 11% annually come the end of 2023, although short-term positivity is expected with an uplift in activity during the second half of the year. Octane Capital analysed historic mortgage approval data from the Bank of England, looking at how the market is […]
Kendal estate agency expands with the launch of new south Cumbria branch

Kendal’s Arnold Greenwood Estate Agents has expanded with the launch of a new south Cumbria branch. Estate agency services at the new office in Grange-over-Sands are provided by the established Arnold Greenwood team of manager Dan Woolf and valuer Keeley Finlayson-Smith alongside Sophie Bainbridge, who joins the team as sales negotiator. Dan said: “The new […]