Search insurance case studies in conveyancing risk management
To search or not to search It is always a dilemma for conveyancing solicitors; to search or not to search when purchasers want to skip that key stage of the conveyancing process. Often a purchaser is desperate to complete, for example, because they have a tenant lined up to rent the place or they need […]
HMLR Practice Guide updates: PG35
Here are the latest practice guide updates issued by HM Land Registry. Corporate insolvency (PG35) Page summary: How to deal with applications involving the insolvency of corporate bodies. Mainly for insolvency practitioners and conveyancers (practice guide 35). Change made: Section 2.6 has been added to clarify HM Land Registry’s requirements when registering a company in […]
Planning data must be overhauled to enable better informed decisions
Planning may be top of everyone’s minds right now, but the data underpinning it is in desperate need of an overhaul, according to the panel of the latest tm:tv session “Understanding the value of planning data”: Paul Addison, Owner of DevAssist Stuart Tym, Planning Lawyer (Senior Associate Solicitor) at Irwin Mitchell Max Jarmey, GeoSpatial Analyst […]
Lawyer Checker Thirdfort meets HMLR Digital ID Standard
Lawyer Checker is a trusted brand used by many conveyancers to defend against fraud and cyber threats, most well-known for its commended Account & Entity Screen. Now conveyancers can demonstrate best practice and meet the HM Land Registry’s new Digital ID Standard with Lawyer Checker’s Thirdfort Standard product. Today Thirdfort have launched Thirdfort Standard, an […]
CLC launches cyber insurance consultation
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).has launched a consultation aimed at clarifying the extent to which cyber-related losses are covered by professional indemnity insurance (PII). The six-week consultation is in response to directions from both the Prudential Regulation Authority and Lloyd’s of London to manage ‘silent’ risk by being explicit on whether coverage is provided […]
Data Innovation Driving Source of Funds
In January 2021 The Legal Sector Advisory Group on anti-money laundering (LSAG) updated its guidance on how law firms should be dealing with the increasing risk of money laundering. Conveyancing continues to be a focus for criminal activity, enabling criminal organisations to filter illegal funds through the sale and purchase of property. One of the […]
Ground rent doubling negligence claim
A case has been brought against a conveyancing firm for failure to notify their client of the incremental increases in ground rent on their leasehold property. The case relates to the previously common practice of builders selling new-build properties with leasehold tenures, with an agreement that the ground rent would double every 5-10 years. Carole […]
Women in Residential Property to host a panel discussion on cladding
As the government’s controversial attempts to resolve the issues, relating to cladding, continue to cause uncertainty for both residents and residential property professionals, the Women in Residential Property (WIRP) Network has announced that it will be hosting a panel discussion on cladding, on Zoom, on the 13th May at 4.30pm. The event is open to […]
HMLR Practice Guide updates: PG80
Here are the latest practice guide updates issued by HM Land Registry. Coronavirus (COVID-19): useful information for conveyancers (PG80) Page summary: Information about pre-existing and new practice of particular relevance in the current circumstances (practice guide 80). Change made: Section 3.1 has been amended to clarify we calculate the application cancellation date from the date […]
Shortlist announced for the British Conveyancing Awards 2021
We’re excited to announce the shortlist for the inaugral British Conveyancing Awards! The awards are brought to you by Today’s Conveyancer, alongside headline sponsor, Lawyer Checker and Champagne Sponsor Simplify, and proceedings begin at 3.30pm on 25th May 2021. The shortlist Category Shortlist Best Use of Marketing Sponsored by The Society of Licensed Conveyancers […]
Update: HMLR Sign your mortgage deed
HM Land Registry has updated their practice guidance regarding the signing of the mortgage deed. The change reflects: Updated the Sign your mortgage deed: guide for conveyancers page to include reasons for an application not automating. More information is available here.
Regulators must set quality standards in the public interest
It is in the public interest for regulators to set standards, rather than leave it to consumers to work out the quality of a solicitor or law firm said the Law Society of England and Wales in its response to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) Quality Indicators discussion paper. The LSB is seeking views on […]
HMRC gunning for MDR Claimants, with new enquiry powers
HMRC have continued their SDLT winning streak in the Tax Tribunal, with another MDR Claimant suffering a heavy defeat for failing to meet the required thresholds to claim Multiple Dwellings Relief. Whilst these cases are interesting to tax lawyers from a technical tax perspective, the judgments are also a cautionary tale to property lawyers and […]
The British Conveyacing Awards shortlist is coming!!
In just a few days time we’ll be able to reveal the shortlist for the first ever British Conveyancing Awards, with the shortlisters being revealed on Friday 30th April 2021. The awards are brought to you by Today’s Conveyancer, alongside headline sponsor Lawyer Checker, a leading risk management service provider. Tom Lyes, Director of Engagement […]
Cladding could cost 10times Government funding
A specialist contracting firm believes the true cost of the cladding crisis is going to reach as high as £50bn, 10 times more than the funding allocated by the Government. Currently, there has been £5bn worth of funding set aside by the government to help high with cladding remediation works in high rise buildings. But […]
How technology can help with source of funds checks
In the latest episode of Legal Eye’s coffee break series, Paul Saunders, MD of Legal Eye, talks to Mike Ward, Chairman of Amarlytix, about how technology can help lawyers to quickly and efficiently establish reliable Source of Funds information when working on a transaction. This article was submitted to be published by Legal Eye as […]
Trading Standards want agents views on material information
National Trading Standards is launching a new programme with input from property portals and industry groups to make it as easy as possible for estate and letting agents to provide basic essential material information. By providing essential information on property listings and on portals – the starting point for the vast majority of property searches […]
Homeowners pick up the pieces of £800k fraud
A fraudster has secured hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal funds by cloning the identity of an unsuspecting homeowner and obtaining credit against their identity. Posing as the homeowner of a property for sale, the sophisticated fraud secured an £800,000 mortgage against the property which was advanced to a bank account which had been […]
Spotlight on Lawyer Checker, headline sponsor at the British Conveyancing Awards
This year, we want to do something a little different and celebrate the herculean efforts made by the conveyancing sector who worked tirelessly to ensure the British public could still move during the most difficult year. The event is set to run on Tuesday 25th May 2021 and will be hosted by the multi-award winning broadcaster and […]
£200m suspicion on money laundering passed to NCA
A report released by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA)has revealed that the agency has reported suspicious activity equating to more than £200m to authorities in the last 12 months. 26 suspicious activity reports were sent to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the year to the end of October 2020. 266 matters were escalated to […]