CON29 delays are unavoidable for many
Today is D day for the new CON29 format introduced by The Law Society. Over the last couple of months PSG has been in communication with all 326 Local Authorities in England and Wales to find out the state of readiness of each to produce the new CON29 and also provide access the to the […]
CON29 Changes – will your search be delayed?
Monday 4th July will see some notable changes in the CON 29 & CON 29O forms. The Law Society has updated and amended most questions in order to take account of a variety of legislative changes such as the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013. In addition, some new mandatory questions to the forms relating to; […]
A phased review of the SRA Handbook and regulatory approach – Principles, Code of Conduct and Practice Framework Rules
The SRA is planning to radically simplify the Handbook, starting with revising the Principles and the Code of Conduct. For the first time, they are proposing two separate codes – a Code of Conduct for Solicitors and a Code of Conduct for Firms. These replace detailed and prescriptive requirements with a framework for competent and […]
The CLC’s Stephen Ward on the regulator’s recent review, new probate qualifications and regulation of will writing
The Council for Licensed Conveyancer recently received a positive report from the Legal Services Board over it’s work, and this week had their new PII scheme approved. Today’s Conveyancer’s Jane Common spoke to the regulator’s Director of External Relations Stephen Ward about recent developments, including a review of its Handbook and the introduction of new […]
Conveyancers PI we Comply
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) proposal for practices to move away from its Master Policy with an opt-out for Professional Indemnity Insurance to a more competitive open-market approach. Instead, five insurers have signed up to a Participating Insurers Agreement setting out Minimum Terms and Conditions of cover. […]
Conveyancers react to forthcoming review of the home buying process
The news that the government is to look at how the home buying process can be improved has received a mixed reaction from conveyancers. The announcement was originally reported in March by Today’s Conveyancer with solicitor and Conservative MP Will Quince mentioning the forthcoming call for evidence in a parliamentary debate last week, calling for […]
Birmingham Law Society announce Risk, Regulation and Due Diligence conference with Landmark
A conference on identifying and mitigating environmental risks is set to take place on the 15th September in Birmingham, organised by Landmark Information Group and the Birmingham law Society Speakers include the Head of Birmingham University’s law School and specialist on land based risk, Professor Robert Lee. Also speaking is His Honor Judge Peter Cooke, […]
Land Registry issues updated guidance on evidence of identity for conveyancers
The guidance for conveyancers on evidence of identity for change of name applications has been updated by Land Registry. Section 6.3 on Change of name has been amended to clarify that, where evidence of identity is supplied in respect of a change of name application, Land Registry also need to see evidence in the person’s former […]
Search Acumen and Land Data announce webinar to bring conveyancers up to speed on CON 29 and CON 29O changes
New CON 29 & CON 29O forms to go live on 4 July 2016 Webinar in partnership with Search Acumen will be hosted by Jan Boothroyd, an authority on local land charges, on 21st and 30th June Attendees to get free access to a downloadable guide; registrations limited to two per firm due to expected […]
MP calls for CML handbook to be reduced to speed up conveyancing
Reducing the size of the Council for Mortgage Lenders Handbook would vastly speed up the conveyancing process according to one former conveyancing MP. The MP for Colchester Will Quince was admitted as a solicitor in 2013 before his election in 2015 was contributing to a Westminster Hall debate on the conveyancing process. Quince also said […]
SRA open up consultation on size and scope of handbook
The Solicitors Regulation Authority are proposing slashing their handbook to enable Solicitors to work across new fields and markets like will writing, advice on social welfare, employment or tax The consultation is set to run until September with the SRA saying they want to move away from “complex, prescriptive rules” to a focus on “principles and […]
Regulation is poor value for money, Solicitors tell LSB
Solicitors regard regulation generally as poor value for money, according to a report by the Legal Services Board. The cost of regulation is also bundled up with other costs of doing business in the mind of the solicitor such as non-legal regulatory requirements and membership of quality assurance schemes such as non-legal regulatory requirements and […]
Land Registry Practice Guide Amendment & April Transaction Data
The Land Registry has recently made amendments to Practice Guide 39, which covers Rectification and Indemnity. This guide is aimed at conveyancers and shows information on how to apply for rectification and compensation which is paid to those who have suffered loss due to a mistake in the register. Rectification of mistakes can be applied […]
CLC Reaction to LSB’s Report on the Cost of Regulation
Reacting to the publication today of the Cost of Regulation report by the Legal Services Board Sheila Kumar, Chief Executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers said: “I am very pleased that the LSB’s work on costs of regulation has found that the profession’s views of both the fees and compliance costs of the CLC regime are […]
CLC statement in response to the LSB’s report on the CLC’s Regulatory Standards 2015/16
The Legal Services Board has published individual reports on the regulatory standards of the front line regulators as well as a thematic report drawing on all of the individual reports. The CLC is pleased that LSB recognises the ‘real improvement against all of the standards since 2012/13’. The LSB agrees with the CLC’s own assessment […]
Ensure your policies are up-to-date
Experts within the legal industry believe that firms will soon be required to outline their risk management plans to their insurers in further detail, to give substance to claims that they are performing necessary and essential due diligence.
Urgent need to change Terms of Business for property sales and tenancy transactions – a practical guide
Although the Consumer Protection Unfair Trading Regulations (CPR) have been in force since 2008 and the amendment that brought ‘immoveable property’ within its scope has been in force since 1 October 2014, it is only now that the full effect of those regulations on solicitor conveyancing businesses has been recognised. The Law Society issued a […]
SRA updates handbook for new consumer credit regulations
The Solicitors Regulation Authority have updated their handbook to take into account changes in consumer credit regulations. The new version, version 16, marks the beginning of a new regime for consumer credit. Transitional arrangements put in place by the Financial Conduct Authority have ended. Solicitor firms are now covered by SRA regulation as long as […]
Changing Regulators: Planning for the future
Regulatory choice is now a reality. Firms can strategically review the benefits and drawbacks of different regulatory systems, before choosing how structure their business, says Katie Jackson of Honne Ltd. If you are worried about the cost of regulation, compliance with CQS, and PII premiums, you may find it worthwhile exploring the option of a […]
Landmark Information Group supports solicitors in meeting CPR obligations
With conveyancing solicitors facing new obligations relating to Consumer Protection Regulations (CPR) following the publication of new guidance from the Law Society, Landmark Information Group is providing a solution that ensures solicitors can easily disclose relevant data that could materially affect a buyer’s decision to proceed with a transaction. The CPRs are designed to protect […]
