Clients’ stress levels going through the roof
Over recent weeks, The Partnership, one of the fastest growing residential conveyancing law firms, has found mortgage lenders reassessing their clients’ mortgage application after they have exchanged contracts, leading to delays in completion, introducing high levels of stress and significant additional costs. Since the introduction of the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), The Partnership has a […]
ETSOS announces end to Land Registry admin fees
Conveyancing search specialist ETSOS has become the first mainstream search supplier to remove all administration fees from Land Registry products. Suppliers have traditionally added a small margin to products ordered from the Land Registry but ETSOS has now scrapped its 75p charge with immediate effect. Comments Managing Director Phil Natusch, “Although it’s always been a […]
OneSearch Direct Endorses LenderPanel
OneSearch Direct, the leading provider of data-driven property searches, has endorsed LenderPanel.com. This is a new, cost-effective, marketing channel for lawyers to reach borrowers at a key decision point in the conveyancing process. LenderPanel enables borrowers and estate agents to ensure a law firm is approved by the lender prior to the conveyancing process taking […]
LegalinX-7Side ready for Trekfest Challenge
As the date approaches, LegalinX-7Side colleagues are preparing to take on the massive challenge of a 54 mile walk, known locally as TrekFest 2014. The challenge is to complete the 54 mile route within 24 hours throughout the beautiful Brecon Beacons that run through the centre of South Wales. The route will be an extreme […]
Lockton's Calum MacLean on Conveyancing Risk
Calum MacLean works out of the London and Bristol offices of risk management specialists Locktons. Today’s Conveyancer spoke to Calum about why conveyancing law is a risky business…. How much of your work is with conveyancing solicitors? ‘We work with a wide range of solicitors – currently around 700 firms from sole practitioners right up […]
Land Registry to destroy original docs
The Land Registry is changing what documents are needed to change the register of a registered property at the end of June. Original documents will no longer need to be sent, only certified copies of deeds or documents need to be sent with applications either through the post or electronically. If you send an original […]
CLC publishes financial statement
The CLC has published its Financial Statements for 2013 here. The figures indicate that the new Chief Executive Sheila Kumar has put the specialist property law regulator onto a solid financial footing. There were unforeseeable financial burdens on the CLC last year because of an increase in the number and scale of interventions needed to […]
SRA important phone numbers change
The SRA will change some important telephone numbers in the first week of June. On Thursday June 5 the Contact Centre, Professional Ethics number and the confidential reporting line Red Alert will replace the 08 at the beginning with 03. A message will play when users attempt to call on the 08 number, advising them […]
Searchflow Conveyancing Sentiment Survey
SearchFlow, a leading information and data provider for the property transaction market, is today unveiling findings predicting strong sector growth in its second Conveyancer Sentiment Survey. The research showed that confidence is appearing to return to the marketplace with more than half (59%) of conveyancers expecting their business to continue to grow by 10% or […]
Suffolk Life expands solicitor panel for SIPP commercial property into Scotland and Northern Ireland
Suffolk Life, one of the UK’s leading providers and administrators of SIPPs, has expanded their solicitor panel to enhance buying and selling commercial property within their SIPPs in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Suffolk Life has named DWF, Curle Stewart and Bond Dickinson for Scotland, and Tughans and Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors complete the panel for […]
Building Society chooses Shakespeares conveyancing
Shakespeares wins major contract with Coventry Building Society Following an intensive tender process, growing Midlands law firm Shakespeares has successfully won renewed and extended contracts with Coventry Building Society’s legal panel to deliver re-mortgaging and conveyancing services. Shakespeares and Coventry Building Society have been working partners for 25 years. Shakespeares partner Paul Saunders said: “This […]
The digital technology changing the way switchboards operate
Telephone answering specialist Moneypenny has introduced a brand new technology product that is changing the way large companies handle incoming calls. Developed by Moneypenny’s in-house IT team and based on more than 14 years’ experience, Digital Reception offers a world-first in voice recognition (VR) accuracy, enabling companies to employ a full technology solution to […]
New Bank of Mum & Dad: The Government!
It’s been just over a year since the government launched the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme. The idea surrounding it was that it would help first-time buyers get on to the property ladder and encourage building. So a year on … is it creating the boom and bust effect the sceptics were worried about? Apparently not. […]
Why Should Conveyancers Use Lead Generation?
Your firm’s website is the “new shop window”, and by using a reputable lead generation service, potential clients are walked right up to your doorstep. The arguments for using a lead generation system are compelling. Apparently lead generation is responsible for 42% of total sales (Econsultancy — Online Lead Generation Report). The legal market has […]
ETSOS takes growth challenge head-on
Having enjoyed growth in year on year revenue of 63% in 2013 and with its revenue targets for the first quarter of 2014 exceeded, ETSOS has moved to further strengthen its business development team across both the residential and commercial sectors. The search specialist sees Julie Hinton join in the new role of Southern Area […]
SRA in training regulation shake-up
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Board has approved changes to their training regulations. The changes form part of the SRA’s ongoing Training for Tomorrow programme of reform and Red Tape Initiative. The Authority is seeking approval from the Legal Services Board with the hope of implementing the changes at the beginning of July. The changes […]
CLC to publish conveyancing data
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has announced it is to make data about conveyancers available on an easy-access spreadsheet. Individuals and businesses regulated by the Council have core information about them already published on their website under ‘Find a Licensed Conveyancer’. Following discussions with the Legal Services Board and Legal Services Consumer Panel, the Council […]
MMR causes drop in property valuations
Property valuations have dropped 15 per cent in the month following the introduction of the Mortgage Market Review rules, according to a new report. The month-on-month fall from March to April represents a stabilisation of the market so that the total number of property valuations for all purposes is the same as it was in […]
Setfords strengthens property arm
Setfords Solicitors, one of the fastest growing law firms of its kind in the UK and included in the legal 500, has added a leading property lawyer to its 100-people strong team. David Amies brings over 15 years of property experience to the Guildford-based solicitors firm and most recently worked as a partner at a […]
SRA to 'destroy high street conveyancing'?
New plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to prevent mortgage lenders from claiming solicitors’ compulsory indemnity insurance has drawn an ominous warning from the Law Society Chief Exec, Des Hudson, who said it will “destroy high street conveyancing”. In an interview published on the Legal Futures website, Mr Hudson said lenders will respond by […]