LSB Approves CLC’s Plans To Cut Cost Of Practising
The Legal Services Board has approved the Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ (CLC) application to reduce its regulatory fee rate. The reduction supports the CLC’s strategic goal to reduce the regulatory cost burden on CLC practices in a way that is sustainable for the foreseeable future. Practice fee rates will now be reduced by 30% for the […]
Groundsure Appoints Ambiental Risk Analytics As A New Flood Data Partner
Groundsure, a leading environmental search report specialist involved in over half of UK residential property transactions has appointed Ambiental Risk Analytics as a preferred flood risk data provider for a selection of its reports. As the global climate undergoes rapid and unprecedented changes, the importance of accurate risk reporting continues to grow. Ambiental Risk Analytics […]
Should The Housing Crisis Be A Conference Season Priority?
Party conference season is in full swing and with an impending general election on the horizon before the end of 2019, it is surprising that housing policy and solutions for the widening housing crisis have not played a greater role in shaping the politicking on the various agendas. The housing sector has been a fairly […]
Brexit Uncertainty Restricts Residential Developments
Despite the Government’s desire to solve the housing crisis by building 300,000 new homes per year by the middle of the next decade, it would seem that developers and home owners are reluctant to embark on construction projects as planning application numbers decline in the second quarter of 2019. According to Office of National Statistics […]
Increasing Risk and Cyber Threat in Conveyancing Sector
A look at the financial and reputational impact of poor cyber hygiene Recently, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) delved into the cyber threats persistently bombarding the legal sector. The report suggested that throughout 2016/17, £11 million was lost to cyber criminals. Unfortunately, since this point the sophistication of hackers has only increased with their […]
National Empty Homes Week 2019 September 23rd-29th
Monday 23rd September marks the start of National Empty Homes Week. The Empty Homes Week was founded by Action on Empty Homes to highlight Britain’s underused or completely unused housing stock and to encourage action on how it can serve those with housing needs. Action on Empty Homes estimate that nationally there are over 216,000 […]
Simon Hayes appointed as Chief Executive of HM Land Registry
Today, 25th September 2019, HM Land Registry have announced Simon Hayes as their new Chief Executive. Simon was appointed by the Business Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lord Duncan, who said: “I am delighted to announce Simon Hayes as the new Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar of HM Land Registry. Simon brings with him […]
‘The Power of Your People’ – Law Share Annual Conference 2019
Getting the most out of your team is vital if you want to succeed in business, and this is the theme that will be running through the Law Share 5th annual conference on 2nd October. According to Forbes: “Employee engagement is the emotional commitment the employee has to the organisation and its goals. This emotional […]
Renters Repress Desires To Purchase Property In Near Future
Whilst many assume that those renting property are simply biding their time until they have saved enough for a housing deposit, the fact remains that the majority feel resigned to permanently living in rental accommodation. According to survey data from over 2,000 tenants renting in the UK, 58% do not intend to buy a property […]
Property Transactions Recover Significantly In August
Despite residential property transactions falling by 0.4% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis in the year to August when compared to 2018’s figures, UK property transactions for August suggest a huge recovery from an unusually quiet July. The provisional seasonally adjusted residential transactions for August indicate 99,890 transactions were completed in August. Whilst this figure represented […]
Dishonest Borrowers Increase Mortgage Fraud By 5% In 2019
Mortgage fraud has increased by 5% in the opening half of 2019 when compared with the second half of 2018 because of dishonest borrowers lying on their mortgage applications. According to figures from Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, 13% of all adults in the UK believe it is ‘reasonable’ to manipulate household income […]
The Effect Of The Rising UK Flood Risk On Commercial Property
As a society, we tend to quickly forget past events such as weather-related disasters, rather than heed lessons for the future. A timely reminder was the recent flooding in the North Yorkshire Dales in July 2019, during which torrential rain caused 100 homes and several businesses to be underwater. According to accounts, the weather was […]
Applications To HM Land Registry Fall 10% Between July And August
Applications to change or query the land register decreased by over 100,000 between July and August. According to HM Land Registry (HMLR), more than 1,706,820 applications were made in August. The recent applications fall in line with the UK’s wait and see approach as many buyers and sellers delay making changes to their homes or […]
8.4 Million People Affected By Housing Crisis In England Alone
8.4 million people are in need of a suitable home in England alone. According to research into the housing crisis in England, the National Housing Federation has found that one in every seven people are directly affected by the current and widening crisis. The research recommends an immediate Governmental cash injection of £12.8 billion over […]
Long-Term Empty Residential Dwellings Increase By 5.3% This Year
The number of empty homes in the UK have increased by 5.3% in the past year, tipping the scales at more than 160,000 long-term empty dwellings. According to the research by Action on Empty Homes and the Nationwide Building Society, 10,983 additional homes were left empty for longer than six months in the past year. […]
Government Falling Short Of Social Housing Replacement Targets
The Governments are replacing little over a third of the social homes they sell off through the Right to Buy scheme. Governmental Right to Buy sales and affordable home starts and acquisitions are declining as a struggling market continues to impact those with the greatest housing need. According to the ‘Right to Buy Sales in […]
Two Thirds Of CLC Firms Deemed Non-Compliant Following Inspections
Of the 51 on site inspections completed by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) in 2019, 34 have been deemed non-compliant. 49 of the inspections were considered routine with two inspections targeted specifically at particular firms. The statistics will be difficult reading for many CLC regulated firms considering only 29% or 15 firms were generally […]
Anxious Buyers And Sellers Delay Home Moves Until After Brexit
Reluctant buyers and sellers are getting ready to pounce on the property market following a definitive Brexit outcome according to a recent survey. 59% of potential buyers and sellers have placed their property purchases on hold until after this year’s Autumn Budget at the very earliest, with many waiting until the Brexit dust settles, according […]
LFS Conveyancing Awards 2019 Winners Announced
The LFS Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Groundsure, recognises the best in class within the conveyancing world and over 360 people attended the 8th annual event held at the Vox, Birmingham. The awards, which were hosted by Jules Breach, BT Sport Presenter, did not disappoint, offering a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the evening. Richard Mathias, […]
Phishing Attempts Targeting Law Firms And Clients Rife
Over two thirds of the UK public believe they have been targeted by phishing emails in the last six months. According to recent research, compiled by Bongate IT, 68% of UK inboxes have been inundated with unscrupulous email phishing attempts. Furthermore, the survey, which questioned individuals from around the UK, found that almost a quarter […]