Weekly fraud roundup
Here are the most recent scam alerts issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Website for “Rowlands Solicitors” A website is claiming to represent “Rowlands Solicitors” and “The Trustworthy Solicitors”, rowlands-solicitors.co.uk. However the SRA state they do not authorise or regulate any firm by either name. The website lists the telephone number 01962 844 632 […]
Land Registry completes 206,321 searches in November
According to statistics released today, Land Registry completed 206,321 searches in November, down from 211,221 in October. Overall, 363,700 were applications in respect of registered land (dealings). 677,160 were applications to obtain an official copy of a register or title plan, 206,321 were searches and 93,721 were transactions for value. Number of searches processed by […]
Andy Sommerville predicts Land Registry privatisation to be "abandoned for a second time"
The privatisation of the Land Registry will be abandoned for a second time according to Search Acumen’s Director, Andy Sommerville. Making predictions for 2016, Andy Sommerville sees the suggested privatisation of the Land Registry as a non-starter due to industry opposition as well as the risk it would put “all of the progress made to […]
Help to Buy ISA guidelines published
The Treasury has published the long awaited conveyancers’ guidelines for the Help to Buy: ISA. The Treasury say they “introduced the Help to Buy: ISA Scheme in order for the Government to help individuals to save for their first home. Savers will look to apply for bonuses from the ISAs in the New Year. However […]
LegalinX provides flood reports vital for future home buyers
With entire villages being evacuated and hundreds more left without power in the aftermath of Storm Desmond, how confident are you that your client’s new property doesn’t sit in a flood affected area? As the clean-up goes on, the hardship will continue for many residents as the price of flood insurance will inevitably increase with […]
It’s Chriiiiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaas!
Don’t panic. Our FREE Express Search Service will help you get those completions sorted by the end of the year. Send multiple search requests on one email – let us do the work. Time is short, everyone needs to complete the transaction “yesterday”. We know that the last thing you are doing right now is […]
CML predicts steady volumes for 2016/17
The volume of residential properties to stay steady into 2016/17 according to predictions from The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). According to the CML, there were approximately 1,219,000 residential property transactions last year, with their prediction for 2015 being 1,210,000. For next year, the CML believes there will be some growth to 1,230,000 transactions with another […]
Law Society president Jonathan Smithers vows to "learn lessons" from Veyo project
President of the Law Society Jonathan Smithers has vowed to learn lessons from the failure of the Veyo project. Responding to an open letter written by Rob Hailstone, also sought to emphasise the operational independence of Legal Practice Technologies (LPT) and its employees from the Law Society itself. Jonathan Smithers wrote: “Closing the Veyo project […]
One in twenty homebuyers find deposits underneath the tree
Just over 5% of homebuyers relied on a gifted deposit this year, up from 4.71% in 2014. First time buyers are regularly turning to the bank of Mum and Dad, according to research by My Home Move. The research also revealed that nearly half (47%) of buyers using government measures designed to help first time […]
Solicitors and conveyancers get in the festive spirit for Christmas Jumper Day
Solicitors and conveyancers up and down the UK have been getting in the festive spirit for charity today. “Christmas Jumper Day” is an annual fundraising campaign organisd by Save The Children, which encourages people to “make the world better with a sweater.” Here are some of our favourites from around the UK. Well done to […]
SRA appoints new board members
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have appointed five new members to its board. The new members are Sharon Darcy, Barry Matthews, Geoff Nicholas, Dame Denise Platt and Deep Sagar. SRA Chair, Enid Rowlands, said: “I’m delighted to announce that we have five such distinguished appointees joining our Board in the New Year. “They will bring […]
Karen Pay joins My Home Move as Director of Human Resources
Karen Pay has joined My Home Move, the UK’s leading provider of mover conveyancing services, as Director of Human Resources. Karen who has previously worked for Xylem Water Solutions, GRG Executive Search and Germanischer Lloyd GL, has over 17 years’ experience within the HR sector. She is an experienced board level partner who excels in […]
Christmas rush (Conveyancer Slater – Tweet of the Week)
You DO NOT understand busy unless you work in conveyancing over Christmas!! — shaylie (@shaylie_marie) December 17, 2015
Effortlessly reduce risk with Searches UK’s online ordering platform
As a client of Searches UK you can rest assured in the knowledge that your search provider is continually reviewing its products and services to make the lives of busy solicitors and conveyancers a whole lot easier. In 2015 Searches UK made improvements to their online ordering platform to assist solicitors and conveyancers in reducing […]
Online estate agents PurpleBricks shares dip after IPO
Online estate agents Purplebricks have launched on London’s alternative investment market (AIM) with shares initially valued at £240.3 million up for sale. Shares had fallen slightly from 100p to 94p after their first two hours of trading. Purplebricks is the first of a series of online estate agents to debut on the stock market. Launched in […]
Rob Hailstone and Bold Legal calls on Law Society to prove Veyo was ever wanted
Rob Hailstone of the Bold Legal group has published an open letter calling for the Law Society to explain itself in detail over the Veyo fiasco. As part of the 15 points put to Law Society president Jonahan Smithers and Chief Exec Catherine Dixon, Rob Hailstone calls ont he Law Society to provide “evidence that […]
Gross monthly lending 23% up year on year for November
Gross monthly mortgage lending for November was up 23% to £19.9 billion compared with November 2015 according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The CML also report that gross mortgage lending has dipped 9% from October 2015 as the market slows down for winter. CML economist, Mohammad Jamei, said: “Lending is set to finish […]
House prices to soar 50% and rent by over a quarter by 2025, predicts ARLA and NAEA
Renting population to increase by 9%, while home ownership will fall by 7% by 2025 Drastic and immediate policy overhaul is necessary to fix Britain’s broken housing market ARLA and NAEA launch Housing 2025 report, compiled with CEBR Rents are set to sky-rocket, and buying a house is getting further out of reach for many, […]
Remortgagors release extra cash ahead of Christmas
A third of remortgagors increase the size of their home loan to release cash, of which two in three increased their loan size by more than £10,000 More than three-fifths refinance to also take advantage of competitive rates available Nearly a third (31%) borrowers who remortgaged in November, did so to increase the size of […]
Efficient processing in the digital age (less paper and more efficient process)
Until now the Government’s digital by default approach has had slow adoption. In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor confirmed his commitment to making savings of 18% to the HMRC budget by scrapping paper processing and committing to central Government’s Digital Drive. It is not surprising that the Chancellor chose to mention HMRC. HMRC has dabbled […]