Home sales see 14% monthly decline
The latest LSL England and Wales House Price Index for August 2015 has been released and the data shows: Average house prices across England and Wales jumped £1,900 in August – fastest rise seen for past twelve months Takes property values to eighth peak this year, standing at £282,816 after 4.1% annual increase East Anglia […]
SRA Compensation Fund pays out over £23 million
The SRA Compensation Fund paid out over £23,800 million in the year to 31st October 2014, latest figures reported to the SRA Board meeting reveal. Grants are primarily paid from the Fund to compensate those who have lost out financially as a result of money not being accounted for, or in some cases misappropriated, by […]
UK home sales decline by 4%
The latest Halifax House Price Index data has reported: House prices in the latest three months (June-August) were 3.0% higher than in the preceding three months Prices in the three months to August were 9.0% higher than in the same three months a year earlier The average monthly costs associated with buying a three bedroom […]
The hidden legacy of mining and mineral extraction in the UK
The history of Great Britain is built upon the foundations of local mineral extraction. Valuable commodities such as coal, stone and metallic minerals have been extracted from beneath our feet for millennia and it is the often hidden legacy of this industry that can cause problems for the ever-growing UK property market today. When you […]
Conveyancing no longer ‘Safe as Houses’
The latest SRA Risk Outlook reiterated the threat of fraudsters for a second time this year; the banging of the bogus firm drum is getting louder. More and more law firms are implementing risk management strategies and processes to combat the criminal conveyancer. Walker Morris’ Banking Litigation specialist Alasdair Urwin explains how to best mitigate and […]
The Yorkshire Legal Awards 2015
The prestigious Yorkshire Legal Awards event is nearing arrival and the official shortlist has been announced. This year has seen the biggest influx of participants since the awards began, according to recent reports. This just demonstrates the sheer saturation of talent across the region and the amount of firms that are eager to attain winning […]
LMS extends partnership with The Marsden Building Society
LMS has extended its relationship with The Marsden Building Society by providing its General Panel Management service to the Society. This will allow The Marsden to offer their members and brokers access to a fully vetted, open and secure panel of law firms. The Marsden operation today continues to be true to the principles of […]
Raft of changes to cut red tape and open up the profession
A raft of changes that will further cut red tape and provide new ways of becoming a solicitor has been approved by the SRA Board. The changes focus on eight separate areas of the Handbook. They will reduce duplication in administration for many, and improve regulation. The proposals approved by the SRA Board were: Simplify […]
What's going on?
Many of us have spent this summer’s warm evenings and weekends relaxing out the back garden with a glass of our favourite tipple, enjoying the peace and quiet and wonderful surroundings. But what if your view was taken away from you? Your green trees replaced by grey concrete buildings, your peaceful afternoon disturbed by constant […]
Searches UK support new energy reports
Searches UK are pleased to announce that Groundsure have updated their energy reports to coincide with the Oil and Gas Authorities (OGA) announcement of new licensing. The change has come after the OGA announced the first portion of new licenses which will be offered to companies to explore for Gas, Oil, Shale gas and Coalbed […]
The Real Cost of Conveyancing in 2015
Recent studies demonstrating the cost of conveyancing over the last decade may suggest a greater cost in terms of risk for those in the field during 2015. A study conducted in 2014 by the Post Office Money and the Centre for Economics and Business Research outlined the difference in moving costs between 2004 and 2014. […]
LSSA announces UK’s first free conveyancing portal
Free2Convey connects all parties in a property chain and is developed and backed by the Legal Software Suppliers Association The LSSA is proud to announce the launch of the Free2Convey conveyancing portal, currently in beta testing and which will go live before the end of 2015. Free2Convey has an easy to view and updated live overview of […]
Are 'starter homes' set to invade the Green Belt?
A recent article from DevAssist states that Chancellor George Osborne has said he wants to reform planning laws to make it easier to build new starter homes in England, which we all know the country desperately needs. However, although the Government backs the decision to expand into rural areas to boost the economy, there are […]
How conveyancers can achieve the best from their marketing strategy
A Cheshire based legal marketing agency have highlighted the need for companies working in the conveyancing & legal sectors to embrace digital marketing or risk losing custom to modern forward-thinking competitors. Solve Legal Marketing say that increasingly firms are realising the need to embrace new marketing channels and technology. The firm specialise in marketing services […]
No better time to start searching
Legal workflow specialist Ochresoft has announced that its Intelliworks conveyancing module will now come with the new inbuilt OchreSearch service. To mark the launch, Ochresoft has also confirmed that for a limited time only it will waive all capital costs for new Intelliworks customers who agree to trial OchreSearch. OchreSearch allows users to order searches […]
OneSearch Direct secures £10m professional indemnity insurance for clients
OneSearch Direct are delighted to announce that from today, Friday 4th September, both their local searches, and their water and drainage searches, will now benefit from an enhanced level of protection. The largest local authority data search company in the UK has successfully secured Professional Indemnity insurance to the value of £10 million for their […]
UK buyers facing unexpected £3.6 billion repair bill
A nasty surprise: in July 2015 alone, UK homebuyers faced unexpected repairs worth over £300 million South East faces the biggest annual repair bill at £820 million, followed by London at £448 million Only 20% of homebuyers order a Home Condition Report, HomeBuyers Report, or Building Survey Homebuyers who failed to fully investigate the state […]
Apprenticeship standards will benefit the legal profession, says the SRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) says the Apprenticeship Standards in law, confirmed as ready for delivery this week by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), will drive up quality and improve access to the legal profession. The Apprenticeship Standards to qualify as solicitors, paralegals, or chartered legal executives are part of a package of […]
Conveyancing Direct Assessment Plans approved by Government
Conveyancing Direct Property Lawyers (CDPL) is delighted to announce that Assessment Plans for two new industry standards for conveyancers have been approved by Government. The approval means that new standards for apprenticeships in Conveyancing Technician and Licensed Conveyancer will soon be ready for delivery. CDPL has been at the forefront of the project to design the innovative […]
OneSearch Direct debunk contaminated land myths with free webinar
With heightened pressure to meet homebuilding targets, the Government has set out a productivity plan to address the UK’s housing shortage. Along with increased compulsory purchase powers, and relaxed planning restrictions, there are proposals for automatic permission to build on brownfield land. This introduction of a new Zonal systemi has created a fresh wave of […]