Use of QES at Land Registry has “rocketed” in latest quarter, new data suggests
The use of Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) at HM Land Registry has “rocketed” in the latest quarter, new research suggests, with 643 applications containing QES compared with one in the same period the previous year. Despite a slow start to the adoption of e-signatures, HMLR data collected by mortgage and home buying consultants Novus Strategy […]
Your First Home price caps revealed ranging from £215,000 to £650,000.
Details of the pricing thresholds for the newly launched Your First Home scheme have been published by the government. The scheme, announced in the budget last week, supports 2.5% deposits, backed by 20% government-backed equity loans, for prospective first-time buyers purchasing a new-build property from a developer signed up to the scheme. The scheme would offer […]
LeO to consult on new strategy as demand for its service outpaces capacity
A new strategy to reform the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) service will be under consultation next week, as despite resolving more complaints year-on year, demand is outpacing capacity. In a half-year update from the complaints service published last Friday, the LeO reported having received more than 8,700 complaints, a 31% rise from the equivalent period last […]
Half of local planning authorities fail to discharge planning conditions within timeframe, analysis found
New research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Paragon Bank Development Finance has found 50.8% of planning condition applications are determined within the statutory eight week timeframe. Analysing a Freedom of Information request, HBF said the research also highlights a lack of consistent monitoring of planning performance, making it difficult to identify bottlenecks, hold […]
Profile: Catherine Shiers, customer engagement director at Groundsure
Catherine joined Groundsure in 2011 as a GIS technician and has taken on various roles before becoming customer engagement director in 2025. As customer engagement director, Catherine is responsible for Groundsure’s marketing, customer support and technical communications teams. She has overall responsibility for developing and executing strategies that enhance customer satisfaction, loyalty and brand advocacy […]