Land registration: Practice guides
Charitable incorporated organisations (PG14a) Page summary: Transactions involving charitable incorporated organisations, including their dissolution (practice guide 14A). Change made: Section 4.6.3 has been amended to clarify that a charitable incorporated organisation is a trust corporation as defined by section 32 of the Charities Act 2022. Time updated: 6:00am, 22 April 2025 The leasehold reform legislation […]
HMLR chief: ‘We’re making headway but have a long way to go’
The chief executive of HM Land Registry has outlined the improvements made by the service and promised no complacency in the ongoing drive to reduce registration times. ‘I know that improving the speed of registration is our customers’ number one concern,’ Simon Hayes wrote in a blog published last week. ‘It is the same for […]
Scam warning as conveyancing firm targeted with fake reviews
Scammers have targeted a conveyancing firm and posted fake one-star reviews after the founder refused to provide sensitive and personal information. Rose Davis, founder and Director at Davis & Co Property Lawyers, has warned firms of the scam which sees scammers post fake one-star reviews, and leave scathing comments, after she refused to share her […]
SRA issues £59,000 in AML fines as deterrent for ‘high-risk’ conveyancers
Breaches of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations by conveyancers have incurred fines of over £59,000 since the start of April, with the Solicitors Regulation Authority insisting the penalties are in the public interest and must act as a deterrent. Notices published by the SRA within the last two weeks list a string of offences that have […]
OPDA launches accreditation programme in drive for data consistency
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has launched an accreditation programme for members, in what it calls ‘a key milestone’ in its drive to achieve greater data transparency, consistency and accessibility across the UK’s property industry. Accreditation will demonstrate OPDA members’ commitment to improving how property data is shared and used, the independent trade body […]
Costly penalties await failure to apply correct rates of SDLT – Warning
Following the end of March many conveyancers would be forgiven for being happy to never hear or talk about SDLT again. But, says one firm, SDLT is something which should always be given due consideration. The warning comes from Relatus, a specialist in SDLT who say incorrectly calculating SDLT can result in costly penalties and […]
MHCLG workers strike over office closures and mandatory office attendance
Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take industrial action from today (Tuesday 22nd April) in a dispute over office closures and mandatory office attendance. A ballot of over 1000 civil servants earlier in April resulted in a vote for strike action after the […]
How long does conveyancing actually take?
In the latest episode of the Today’s Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie welcomes Rob Gurney, Managing Director of Ochresoft to discuss how long conveyancing actually takes; and why lower the lower transaction volumes of the last couple of years haven’t seen corresponding falls in completion times. A new report from Landmark which interrogates the data […]