Number of monthly property transactions up 6.1% on 2014
The number of property transactions over £40,000 in October is up 6.1% compared with October 2014, according to the latest statistics published by HMRC this week. Non-residential transactions also grew, with 10,160 recorded last month – up 4.8% year on year. However, the picture across the UK is more varied, with growth in England, Wales […]
SRA looks to the future, setting out a new regulatory model
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has outlined its vision for the future, pushing ahead with a fundamental shift away from prescriptive rules in favour of protecting the public by setting out the principles solicitors should follow. The SRA’s phased review of how it regulates was launched today with the publication of a position paper. In […]
My Home Move wins British Legal Awards and Your Mortgage Awards 2015 -16
My Home Move, the UK’s leading provider of mover conveyancing services, picked up two industry awards last night, after winning the ‘Education and Training Initiative of the Year’ award at the British Legal Awards, as well as the title of ‘Best Legal Services Provider’ at the Your Mortgage Awards, for the third year in a […]
The importance of a holistic approach to secure messaging
When it comes to business email security, human error is one of the chief causes of data loss. The reality is that people make mistakes. In some cases human error happens when employees don’t effectively use the company’s security tools – most often because these tools have a negative impact on speed and performance and […]
Autumn statement receives mixed reaction
Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn statement has received a mixed reaction after he revealed the well trailed help-to-buy schemes for first time buyers being in part paid for by a 3% rise in stamp duty on second and buy-to-let homes. Osborne believes the rise in Stamp Duty will raise close to an additional £1 billion over […]
Chancellor announces "biggest house building programme since 1970s"
Osborne pledges 400,000 new homes across England Half of the new homes set to be “starter homes” Treasury to finance house builders to the tune of £7 billion Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to implement what he describes as “the biggest house building programme since the 1970s”. Mr Osborne plans to directly fund housebuilders in building […]
Monthly remortgaging hits post-recession high
The total value of remortgages in a month topped £6 billion this October for the first time since July 2009 The figures from Legal Marketing Services (LMS) say the value of remortgages is up nearly 49% compared with October last year, hitting a high of £6.1 billion, – 20% higher than September’s £5.1 billion. The […]
OneSearch Direct to exhibit at inaugural Modern Law Conveyancing Conference 2015
OneSearch Direct, the UK’s largest local search data company, is delighted to be exhibiting at the Modern Law Conveyancing Conference 2015. Taking place on Thursday 3rd December at Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, delegates are invited to come and chat to the OneSearch Channel Managers and enter a free prize draw to win a Luxury Christmas […]
tmgroup highly commended in Modern Law Awards
tmgroup were highly commended in the Modern Law Awards for the category Supporting the Industry (26+ employees) last week at a prestigious ceremony at The Hurlingham Club in London. The awards were launched to celebrate and identify sparkling talent and success in entrepreneurship, market development, business management and best practice in the modern legal services […]
Osbourne’s pledge to make housebuilding a priority brings home importance of comprehensive planning searches
George Osbourne’s pledge of £2 billion to the housing budget to deliver 400,000 affordable homes by 2020 is welcome news for aspiring homeowners and the property industry. However, Maud Rousseau, Marketing and Communications Director of SearchFlow, conveyancing search provider, stresses the importance of conveyancers carrying out comprehensive and the most up-to-date planning searches to protect […]
Autumn Statement: Search Acumen comments on the intention to consult on Land Registry privatisation
Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director of Search Acumen, comments on today’s Autumn Statement and the Government’s intention to consult over options to privatise Land Registry operations from 2017: “Any move to privatise Land Registry operations must not be allowed to put barriers in the way of access to property and land data, which is vital to […]
Land Registry needs you to be alert
At a recent Land Registry Stakeholder meeting, it was revealed that only 27,000 people had signed up for Land Registry Property Alerts; a free service helping people to protect against fraud. This excellent fraud prevention tool is free, quick, and easy to use, and will make a difference in time as more properties are protected […]
Barratt Developments report forward sales up over 20%
Barratt Developments, the UK’s largest housebuilder, has announced a 20.7% growth in total forward sales for the period July 1st to Nov 8th compared with the same period in 2014. Barratt have also announced growth in net private reservations of 12.5% compared with in 2014, with 261 reservations compared with 232 between July 1st and […]
All aboard!
The Polar Express is a Christmas film about a boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole. The old fashioned steam train comes through a residential area to pick the boy up right outside his house, but the journey isn’t easy: The train speeds through pine forests, up and down winding mountains, […]
October Transaction Data from Land Registry
Land Registry completes 1,559,023 applications South East tops the table of regional applications with 358,555 Birmingham tops the table of local authority applications with 23,295 The Transaction Data shows Land Registry completed over 1,559,000 applications from its customers in October. This includes 1,526,964 applications by account customers, of which: 371,379 were applications in respect of […]
Landlords put the brakes on rent hikes
A quarter of letting agents report rent hikes for tenants – the lowest this year Supply of rental properties dips alongside demand ARLA issues October Private Rental Sector (PRS) Report Fewer tenants are experiencing rent increases, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) monthly Private Rental Sector (PRS) Report1. The number of letting […]
InfoTrack and Lawyer Checker partner to combat fraud
Conveyancers using InfoTrack can now protect themselves against fraudulent law firms with Lawyer Checker. With 16 SRA ‘scam alerts’ in the last month alone, InfoTrack have responded by integrating Lawyer Checker clearly on the platform. This ensures law firms have the tools to carry out their due diligence, on the same platform where all conveyancing […]
A new digital environmental report will streamline and improve transparency of conveyancing service
Conveyancing search provider, SearchFlow launches an all-encompassing and digital environmental report, which will offer significant time savings for conveyancers and enhanced communication with homebuyers. The comprehensive environmental report, RiskView Residential, compiled by Landmark Information Group, will analyse four key environmental factors; Contaminated Land, Flood, Ground Hazards and Energy and Infrastructure. It will also include a […]
£150,000 and no permission for the mud under Bloomsbury, London
If proof were ever needed of the ongoing demand for basement space in London, this month, the amount of cash paid smashed all expectations, after a developer signed over a staggering six-figure sum for the mud underneath an existing block of flats. Paul Addison, Managing Director of DevAssist explains why and what this could mean […]
CLC Chair Dame Janet Paraskeva sparks debate on PII, Lenders Panels and calls for genuine choice of regulator
PII and run-off requirements seen to be inhibiting firms’ choice of regulator Lenders panels could be anti-competitive and a barrier to market access Incomplete separation of representative and regulatory bodies muddying regulation Dame Janet Paraskeva, the new Chair of the specialist property law regulator, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), highlighted some strategic challenges for […]