SLC Calls on Licensed Conveyancers to boycott Metro Bank event
Complaint to CMA under consideration. The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) have called on its members and all other Licensed Conveyancers to boycott a seminar that Metro Bank is staging on 2nd July in London. The Society also announced that it is considering referring Metro Bank to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in respect […]
House prices hit new highs in May despite slower growth
The latest LSL Property Services (in association with Acadata) House Price Index for England and Wales in May 2015 reveals: Average house prices in England and Wales at new high of £277,178 – fourth price record set this year Monthly property price growth picks up to 0.4% – but still only a third what it […]
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a hardy, bamboo-like perennial plant that, although quite attractive on first glance, is highly aggressive and destructive. It was originally introduced by botanists as an ornamental garden plant in the mid nineteenth century and has now spread to such an extent that it is present in almost every 10km × […]
Protect your clients with the Searches UK Buyer Protect scheme
A recent article from Estate Agent Today has uncovered figures stating that one in four house sales have fallen through in the first quarter of 2015. Add this onto the already stressful process of moving house, and you could be facing some very unhappy, not to mention out of pocket clients, as well as a […]
Prospective buyers left struggling since MMR
Statistics published by Experian suggest that new mortgage rules have led to disappointment for a significant number of prospective property buyers, one year on from the Mortgage Market Review (MMR). The statistics, based on a survey carried out in May 2015 by Explain the Market among a sample of 1,500 UK adults, suggest that 45% […]
Subsidence and Sinkholes
Subsidence is movement in the ground which causes a property to move or sink downwards causing a shift in the foundations of a property. This usually happens when a home is built on clay soil, when the water table drops due to a long, dry spell or when water is sucked out of the soil […]
Bold Legal Group partners with Metro Bank and Search Acumen to host a free conveyancer CPD seminar
CPD-accredited event will see industry experts discuss emerging issues in risk, compliance, fraud, technology and Veyo Seminar will address business challenges as the market gains momentum Bold Legal Group has partnered with Search Acumen and Metro Bank to host a free CPD-accredited seminar for conveyancers, bringing together a panel of industry experts to debate the […]
Interview with James Boyd, Chief Executive at Birchall Blackburn Law
James Boyd is Chief Executive of the conveyancing department at Birchall Blackburn Law, which has witnessed 68% growth in conveyancing transactions (from £4.5m to £7.6m) over the past year. He told Today’s Conveyancer how the firm achieved this and – how it can build on it…. So how have you achieved 68% growth over the […]
First Title announces new appointments in Europe
First Title Insurance is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Jackson a Sales Director Western Europe. Jackson previously headed up the business in Central and Eastern Europe building it up from a non-existent operation into a multiâ€award winning business that celebrates its ten-year anniversary in 2015. Jackson said, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity […]
Competition heats up as conveyancing transactions fall 16% in Q1 2015
Transactions fall faster than the number of active firms in the market Conveyancers work harder for business as average transactions per firm fall 14% Biggest firms feel the biggest short term impact, but the top five still account for 61% more transactions than three years ago Conveyancers face mounting pressure to maintain and grow their […]
OneSearch Direct and Landmark Information Group announce free CPD webinar on risk reports
OneSearch Direct, one of the UK’s leading property search firms, has partnered with Landmark Information Group to provide a free CPD webinar that will help solicitors decide which risk reports they should use in their property transactions. The webinar will provide an overview on environmental, flooding and planning concerns, and explore why risk searches are […]
Introducing Joel Swann – Business Development Manager
Searches UK are delighted to welcome and introduce their latest team member, Joel Swann, who has recently joined their expanding Sales Team. Joel has in-depth knowledge and experience in the property search industry and is committed to developing relationships with existing clients as well as attracting and taking on new clients. Joel is keen to […]
Can you help? (Conveyancer Querier – Tweet of the Week)
Social media could be one of the most valuable, untapped resources for solicitors. More frequently, prospective clients are asking both in depth and even the most basic of questions such as “Can anybody recommend a solicitor?” Rather than our usual weekly Slater – this week’s Querier is just one example of the regular questioning that […]
Leading Cardiff firm invests to underpin conveyancing growth
Ochresoft continues to consolidate its position as the UK’s leading conveyancing workflow provider with the signing of Hek Jones. The Cardiff-based property specialist is set to deploy the Intelliworks platform to support its busy residential conveyancing team. For managing partner Darren Hek the project is more than just ticking the compliance, standards and productivity boxes: […]
Step in the right direction for first time buyers
A quarter (26%) of sales made to FTBs in April Three quarters (74%) of estate agents don’t see supply and demand levelling out over the next five years Nine in ten (92%) of NAEA agents think the General Election result is great news for the housing market NAEA releases April Housing Market Report A quarter […]
Cutting red tape to level the playing field
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has cut bureaucracy that restricts the way traditional law firms operate, by removing restrictions on solicitors having links with outside businesses. Changes to the Separate Business Rule – which mean that solicitors can own or be connected to separate businesses providing non–reserved legal services – were agreed by the SRA Board […]
Flood of testimonials for FCI Environmental Reports
Future Climate Info (FCI) provides a market leading suite of residential and commercial Environmental Reports on Contaminated Land, Flood, Ground Stability and Energy & Infrastructure for due diligence in conveyancing. Since launching the reports in July of last year, FCI has seen key industry names wholeheartedly adopt these new products, and support for our ground-breaking […]
UK homeowners save £701 million in tax in six months since stamp duty overhauled
Changes made six months ago benefited anyone buying a house for less than £937,500 Average saving of £1,400 per house purchase UK homeowners have saved £701 million in the six months since the introduction of the Stamp Duty Land Tax reforms on December 4th 2014, according to myhomemove, the UK’s leading provider of mover conveyancing […]
Amanda is a National Apprentice Award Nominee!
Amanda McGovern from Pali Head Office in Wallasey has been nominated by Sysco Training to represent them in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2015. Amanda’s NVQ assessor Alison Jones was delighted to inform Amanda that Sysco had chosen her to be put forward out of all other apprentices who train with Sysco. Amanda is thrilled with […]
Interview with Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman
After nine years as The Property Ombudsman, Christopher Hamer’s term of office is coming to an end on 30th November 2015. He told Today’s Conveyancer what he’s learnt about the property sector over that time – and what he believes all property professionals can do to make it operate more smoothly. You’ve been property ombudsman […]