New Head of Conveyancing announced at UK law firm
UK law firm Shoosmiths has appointed a new Head of Conveyancing. Partner, Suman Dally will be taking charge from 1 May 2021, taking over the reins of the £9.2m turnover practice from conveyancing partner David Parton. David has headed the market-leading practice since 1997 during which time he has also been an adviser to the […]
Women in Residential Property meeting reports optimistic outlook for 2021
As the first Women in Residential Property meeting of 2021 took place, the mood was undoubtedly optimistic as the expert panel – representing many of the key industries involved in residential property transactions – discussed how their businesses were faring. Joined by surveying representative, Rachel Griffiths – SDL Surveying, conveyancing representative, Megan Jenkins – Shakespeare […]
Funding is needed for mental health reform, says Law Society
The Law Society has warned that proposed changes to the mental health system must be properly funded to be effective. Following publication of the Mental Health Act White Paper in January 2021, the regulator has stressed that for the reform to be successful it needs significant monetary backing. In order to succeed the proposed reforms […]
The SDLT ‘Cliff Edge’ is just one of thousands, isn’t it?
It is amazing to see so much chatter and debate about the SDLT deadline and how everyone is going to make it; whether it should be extended or feathered out or remain a ‘cliff edge’. But everyone appears to have forgotten that every single transaction has a ‘cliff edge’ irrespective of SDLT, that is invariably […]
How to grow your new build conveyancing portfolio
Recent government figures have shown an increase in the number of new build homes being built in England. Robert Jenrick, Housing Secretary said: “The figures show that the number of new homes developers have started building have more than doubled compared to the previous quarter and the number of completed homes has almost tripled. This reflects […]
New LSB rules on regulators’ fees will increase transparency for lawyers
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published new Rules and Guidance to increase transparency on how legal services regulators spend practising certificate fees (PCF). Increased transparency will help empower those who pay the PCF to hold their regulator accountable for its expenditure. The proposals are designed to lead to a more meaningful debate on the […]
inCase Conveyancing app near doubles revenue post-investment
Since securing £1.5m private equity investment in June 2020, Lavatech Limited, the Manchester based developer of the inCase Conveyancing app has seen rapid business growth increasing revenues by 80% in the first six months of its financial year. The investment has been used to grow personnel from a headcount of 10 to 23 people in […]
Conveyancing clients charged for firm’s indemnity insurance are fined
Three solicitors who charged conveyancing clients for the firm’s indemnity insurance have been fined. Partners of Crown Gate Law based in Birmingham have been reprimanded by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for getting their clients to pay for indemnity insurance, as well as “variable sums” for filling out a simple standard form. The SDT described […]
HM Land Registry Guidance Updates for Conveyancers
HM Land Registry have updated their guidance on lease determination and how to apply for a notice or a restriction to protect a third-party interest in a registered estate or charge. The Land Registry have edited both guides to clarify for conveyancers below: How leases are determined and how this affects registered titles (practice guide […]
SDLT holiday deadline looms
Jo Hodges, Sales and Marketing Director at Redbrick Solutions shared her thoughts with Today’s Conveyancer about the upcoming deadline for the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) holiday. The temporary increase in the stamp duty threshold to £500,000 for property sales in England and Northern Ireland comes to an end in March. Anyone completing on a […]
Legal Eye Risk Management Podcasts
Risk and compliance consultancy Legal Eye brings you the first in a series of short podcasts designed to share short snippets about risk management in a law firm. In this ‘Two Minute Top Tips Podcast’ they look at improving ‘Complaints Handling’ within your firm. Listen to the podcast here. This article was submitted to be […]
Transactions can still complete before SDLT deadline
The Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday deadline is now only 58 days away, but that shouldn’t prevent transactions from still meeting the deadline according to one firm. Understandably, the property market has seen a mini-boom after it was temporarily closed in March 2020 as part of the first national lockdown, and the SDLT holiday […]
Lenders changing Part II Requirements at alarming rate
A new report into updates to Lender Part II enquiries has highlighted a significant number of changes to Lender requirements. In the last 30 days Navro Compliance have reported over 55 changes to Part II questions. Explaining the challenges facing conveyancers, Navro Director Mike Georgiou explains “The move to UK Finance has provided 24/7 access […]
How can your firm manage risk and compliance in an increasingly digital world?
As law firms continue to adopt digital ways of working very quickly as a result of the rise in remote working; it seems likely that some of these changes in working practices are likely to be here for the long term. Some staff will be considering whether they’d like to work from home more even […]
NHBC reports decline in annual new home registrations
Impact of pandemic sees 23 per cent decline in annual new home registrations despite strong Q4 bounce back, reports NHBC. Covid-19 caused the number of new homes registered to be built by UK housebuilders to fall by 23 per cent in 2020, according to new figures released today by NHBC. However, productivity moved close to […]
Digital ID spurred on by Covid pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic had had a big impact on the issue of confirming client identities, especially in the homebuying and selling market. The virus has in effect sped up the sector’s need to adopt technology, because conveyancers and other stakeholders in the property chain are unable to meet people as often as they usually would […]
New Property Trends Report from Landmark
Cross-market trend analysis for England and Wales’ residential property market – a complete analysis of the property transaction pipeline from property listings, sold subject to contract, legal conveyancing and completions Landmark Information Group, the leading provider of information to the UK property market, has today announced the launch of a new Property Trends Report, which […]
Conveyancing Association announce Terrafirma as latest Affiliate member
Terrafirma, a provider of ground risk assessment, has today (28th January 2021) become the latest firm to join the Conveyancing Association, the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, as Affiliate members. Established in 2015, Terrafirma provides accurate and innovative mining and ground risk assessment and is a provider of property searches in the UK, […]
Half of conveyancers want SDLT scrapped
Over half of conveyancers want SDLT on property purchasers under £500,000 to be scrapped if the government continues with its plan to end the SDLT holiday on 31st March, according to a snap poll run by Index West Midlands. More than half (51.2%) think scrapping stamp duty will be the best course of action, but […]
Lockdown set to continue till March
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has stated that the national lockdown will remain in effect until early March at the earliest, as the UK comes to terms with the news that we have surpassed 100,000 deaths. During Prime Minister’s Querstions, he told the House of Commons that schools would be the first part of society to […]