Email Conveyancing Quotes Letters: How To Improve Your Results
Do you send out an email quotes letter to people who have rung for a residential conveyancing quote? What proportion of your email quotes letters convert into business? Of course it is a good thing to email a potential client details of your conveyancing quote, BUT there is a massive general problem, which is having […]
Legal technology conference launches in Sheffield
The LegalTech North Conference aims to bridge the gap between law and technology, bringing lawyers together with innovative tech solutions. The one day event in November will explore how technology can be used to resolve key challenges facing law firms today. The conference will also see the launch of a new legaltech incubator. Leading voices […]
Equity Release Beginning to Dominate in Later Life Planning
The recent Autumn 2018 Equity Release Market Report has found that there has been a staggering 81% increase in equity release from H1 in 2016 to H1 in 2018. Among reasons including improved social care and helping family, improved product choice has also been considered an attributing factor to the upsurge in the use of […]
The legal sector and war against cyber criminals
The war against cyber criminals has been under way for many years now. In most cases we hear about the detrimental impact cyber criminality is having on law firms. Lured in by the sensitive information and potential of lucrative profits if the scam works, law firms have been particularly susceptible to fraud. We know that […]
Labour announce their housing policy intentions
With whispers and rumours of a possible snap election in the near future, Labour have announced a number of potential housing reforms that they hope will reinvigorate the housing market and improve the housing crisis. A potential Labour Government would put a levy on thousands of second homes that are currently used for holidays. The […]
57% of Small Law Firms completely unprepared for reforms
Despite industry wide publicity and constant speculation, a recent report has claimed that 57% of small law firms remain ‘completely unprepared’ for December’s reforms or had no idea that there were any proposed changes. The report, carried out by analytics specialists LexusNexis UK, outlines a range of concerns posed by small law firms in the […]
Today’s Conveyancer Second Roundtable Roundup
On Tuesday, representatives from the UK’s most respected conveyancing firms, innovative suppliers to the sector, technology experts and industry commentators gathered to discuss the hot topics concerning the conveyancing sector. Hosted by Chris Harris, Managing Director of Lawyer Checker and owner of the Practical Vision network, attendees included partners, directors and senior representatives from Law […]
Report Claims Law Firms Are Ignoring Potential Clients For Days
In a time when regulatory reforms are creating an increasingly competitive and hostile environment, it is shocking that some law firms are ignoring potential enquiries. The recent research, by Insight6, a customer experience expert, sought mystery shoppers and asked them to make contact with fifty law firms through their websites and phone systems. The mystery […]
My Home Move wins at the Law Firm Services Awards 2018
My Home Move, the UK’s leading provider of mover conveyancing services, has won the ‘Best Training Firm of the Year’ and ‘Most Innovative Use of Technology Firm of the Year’ awards at this year’s Law Firm Services Conveyancing Awards. The ceremony, which was held on Wednesday 19th September 2018, at The Vox Conference Centre in […]
LFS 2018 Award Winners Announced
Last night the conveyancing event of the year was enjoyed by a record number in attendance. Amidst the glitz and glam of the event at the prestigious VOX centre in Birmingham, the LFS Conveyancing Awards announced the well deserving winners. Congratulations to all of the winners and everybody that was nominated! Regional Conveyancing Firm of […]
A better deal for leaseholders could be on the horizon
Following recent concerns surrounding leasehold property, The Law Commission has suggested a number of reforms that could potentially ease the difficulties with leaseholders buying the freehold title to their property. The proposed reforms include making enfranchisement quicker, easier and cheaper. This includes limitations and restrictions, like living in the property for the minimum period of […]
HM Land Registry Update on digital land charges roll out
HM Land registry (HMLR) have boasted that their digital, holistic Local Land Charges (LLC) system will reduce official search times from “8 weeks to 8 clicks.” Although the system and allure of instant results will revolutionise the search process and potentially speed up house completions, a fully integrated system, that includes all 326 local authorities, […]
Remortgaging hits a ten year high
The residential remortgaging market has seen the strongest July in a decade. That’s according to new figures from UK Finance. The findings by the industry trade body reveal that there were 46,900 new homeowner remortgages in July. That’s up by over 23% on the previous month. In addition, homeowners borrowed £8.7bn of remortgaging in the […]
Government Increase Funding for Additional New Build Sites
The housing crisis in England and Wales has been a consistent discussion topic amongst conveyancers in recent years. The Government’s desire to build 300,000 homes per year is inevitably outweighed against the issues like desirable locations, available land and time constraints. In a recent announcement, James Brockenshire, Hosing Secretary, has offered insight into additional funding […]
UK House Price Index Recognised as National Statistic
The UK house price index (UK HPI) has been well respected for a significant period of time. It has now been recognised as a National Statistic by the Office for Statistics Regulation. Deemed as providing accurate information, the industry regulator has viewed UK HPI as providing exemplary levels of ‘quality, value and trustworthiness’. Mike Hardie, […]
Executors selling Long Leaseholds offered relief
The case of Villarosa V Ryan (2018) has been a complex one. However, the recent ruling and slight amendments to the Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, will now permit an executor to apply for a lease extension without the usual two year waiting period. Under the 1993 leasehold reform, a tenant must have acquired […]
Carney Warns a No-Deal Brexit Could Cause Significant Housing Crash
Mark Carney, the Bank of England’s Governor, has issued a stark warning that a no deal Brexit could set the housing market dominoes in motion, culminating in a significant and prolonged crash. Among the headline figures that were discussed during a meeting with governors, was the possible scenario that house prices could fall by 35% […]
Average cost of moving home exceeds £12,000 for the first time
According to the Lloyds Banking Group, the average cost of moving home has increased by 4% in a year from £11,624 to £12,110. The holistic figure is calculated by adding up stamp duty, home removal costs, estate agent fees and surveyor costs. A consistent rise in the price of houses has contributed to a huge […]
Solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance: market update
As part of the Legal Eye series on helping you with preparation to negotiate your professional indemnity insurance renewal, Steve Holland of Lockton presents a market update. In further signs that the benign professional indemnity insurance (“PII”) market conditions are coming to an end, it was announced in mid-August that Libra will cease underwriting solicitors’ PII […]
Legal Service Robots Are On The Rise
The rise of the robots has plagued the imagination of science-fiction since its inception. Whether it involved Asimov’s three rules of robotics or the time travelling robotic psychopaths in the Terminator franchise, the world has worried about the role of robotics. The world has prepared itself for the robotic invasion with many low skilled jobs […]