Property range for CQS solicitors builds
Yesterday (30/01/17), HSBC announced that sole practitioners accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) will be able to act on a wider range of properties.
Modernising the Law Society
Continuing to pursue an agenda of modernisation, a review of the Law Society’s governance is under way.
SRA prepare rules on price publication for firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have recently confirmed that rules regarding firms publishing price information may be revealed as soon as summer 2017.
New tax evasion penalties for enablers
Lawyers and advisers who enable tax evasion may be subject to harsher consequences following the introduction of tougher sanctions at the start of 2017.
COLPs and COFAs – Know your obligations
Compliance Officers for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officers for Finance and Administration (COFA) have vital roles in the regime of outcome focused regulation of the SRA.
Conveyancing Association says 2017 is the year for ‘leasehold change’
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has today (13th January 2017) outlined its continued focus on reforming the leasehold process and suggested 2017 should be the year when meaningful change is finally delivered. The CA has been campaigning on the issue of leasehold reform for a number of years, […]
Plant experts predict Invasives Code will help property industry
Experts in invasive plant species, including Japanese knotweed, are calling for greater uptake of the Invasives Code, predicting it will help property professionals to understand the Code and its implications. Formerly known as the Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Code, it is set by The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) and the recently renamed Invasives Code, […]
£60m fund to tackle second home problem
A new annual fund of £60 million has been set aside by the Government in order to assist almost 150 councils overcome the prominent issue of second home ownership within their communities.
Adverse possession of registered land
Described in the Law Commission’s Report 271 (Law Com 271), the “doctrine of adverse possession” allows the acquisition of a title to land that is owned by somebody else. This is subject to certain conditions, which include continual possession of the land or using it for a certain period of time in absence of the owner’s […]
Stamp Duty Land Tax: Unintended consequences for leaseholders?
On the wish list of a number of my clients for this year’s Autumn Statement was the reform of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rules introduced in April 2016. A broadsheet newspaper’s campaign to scrap the three percent surcharge applicable to anyone buying a second property clearly fell on deaf ears, with the Chancellor remaining […]
Chambers Solicitors, Bradford – Freezing Injunction
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has obtained a freezing injunction from the High Court as a result of concerns that money due to Chambers Solicitors, formerly of 37 Grattan Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 2LU, is being diverted to other law firms who may not be entitled to the money. This follows the SRA announcement […]
Terrafirma highlights the risk to properties from mining hazards
Specialist provider adds Con29M-compliant coal mining report to the TerraSearch® suite, offering greater protection to property owners
New Welsh powers for stamp duty and income tax
Under a new fiscal framework, the Welsh Government has been granted powers which will allow it to control various taxes from 2018-19.
Problems with misrepresentation
The basic cause of action for an incorrect reply to one of the questions on the Property Information Form is an action for misrepresentation. A misrepresentation is an untrue statement made by one contracting party which is relied upon by the other, which induces him/her to enter into the contract, and as a result of […]
Legal Services Board, not Ministry of Justice, needs to act to secure independent regulation
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has reacted to the release today of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Market Study on the legal sector.
Stamp duty impact on high-end homes
In the last six months following the second home stamp duty increase, the revenue accumulated from the tax has fallen by £500 million, according to recent research. The report from London Central Portfolio (LCP) analysed figures from the previous 12 months and summarised the key findings: Sales above £10 million fell by 75% – this […]
Stand and deliver
As the Government comes under increasing pressure to meet housing targets, compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) are gaining favour as a means of allowing a public body to take a property by right where it is needed as a matter of public interest. In its sixth report “Removing the Barriers to Housing Delivery”, published in March […]
Are you complying with the SRA/CLC/Cilex Code of Conduct?
For many busy conveyancers, it can be a constant juggling act staying on top of your caseload, keeping your clients happy and ensuring compliance with the obligations of your regulators Code of Conduct. From your professional performance and due diligence procedures to maintaining a suitable training programme for your firm’s employees, it is essential that […]
VAT applied to CON29 council searches – time to reconsider?
Due to recent changes introduced by HMRC, the search industry has been advised that Local Authorities will be required to apply VAT, at its current 20% rate, to CON29 fees from 3 January 2017. Ipsos MORI Local Land Charges Survey Highlights Personal Search Quality Interestingly, recent research – ‘Local Land Charges Survey’ conducted by Ipsos […]
VAT on CON29 searches confirmed
Following our announcement last week, Today’s Conveyancer has now received confirmation directly from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that VAT will be applied on CON29 searches. The HMRC spokesperson said: “The provision of information by local authorities using the CON29 process will be subject to VAT. Final details are being discussed with them. This change will […]
