Fraudulent employee references on the rise
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is warning of fraudulent employee references. Together with BBC1’s Fake Britain, the FSB cooperated on a survey of 1,800 small firms, which found that nearly one in five had discovered candidates with fraudulent references. They also found that 71 per cent of small business owners are unaware that websites […]
East of England sees highest number of planned property purchases
Five per cent of households in the UK plan to buy a property in the next year, according to a new survey. The report, carried out by Ipsos Mori and Knight Frank, found that 7.9 per cent of households in the East of England intend to purchase property in the next 12 months, while 7.7 […]
Interest-only mortgage debt falling
The CML has reported a significant reduction in outstanding interest-only mortgage debt. A year after the agreement between the CML and the FCA that lenders would contact borrowers with interest-only mortgages due to mature before 2020, a survey has found that there were an estimated 2.2million IOM outstanding on lenders’ books at the end of […]
CLS Monthly News Round-Up – May Edition
Residential Conveyancing News Chancel Repair Liability – 12,000 New properties registered (Published by The Independent) Rural communities in uproar as 250 Parochial Church Councils (PCC) register Chancel Repair Liability against 12,000 properties across the UK. The PCC are not removing the liability permanently but are given temporary permission not to pursue it, therefore the liability […]
Decision Insight Information Group (Europe) announces departure of CEO
Decision Insight Information Group (Europe) (“DIIG(E)”) has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Marshall King, will be leaving the business. Marshall King joined DIIG(E) in October 2012, recruited by the then owner of the business, TPG Capital. During that time he implemented a strategic review of the business, restructuring the major group company, SearchFlow, and […]
Conveyancing Protocol and Title Insurance
The Conveyancing Protocol published by the Conveyancing Association (http://www.theconveyancingassociation.co.uk) and endorsed this week by the Society of Licensed Conveyancers is an attempt to streamline and standardise the conveyancing process by setting agreed responses to the title problems and delays that often occur. Instead of conveyancers “taking a view” on the importance of matters disclosed in […]
SRA's response to education and training regulations
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its response to the consultation on changes to the education and training regulations. The 12-week consultation closed at the end of February and is the first stage of the SRA’s Training for Tomorrow programme. It contains proposals that focus on the essentials of the Authority’s education and training […]
SRA reminder – Keeping of the Roll
The SRA has announced that this year’s keeping of the roll exercise will begin on Wednesday 7 May. Solicitors without a practising certificate who wish to remain on the roll can complete the application online through the mySRA portal and will need to pay a £20 fee. Solicitors whose names have been on the roll […]
MMR causes dip in mortgage valuations
The new mortgage affordability rules that came into force on 26 April have already had an effect on the housing market, according to one chartered surveyors company. Connells Survey & Valuation found that the total number of property valuations for all purposes fell by nine per cent between February and March, leaving it at 10 […]
Beware MMR transactions falling through
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has warned that the new MMR rules that came into force on 26 April could cause delays to the home-buying process. The new rules aim to ensure that only those who can afford mortgages are able to secure them but could cause a backlog in demand and may even cause an […]
Residential property transactions soar by almost a third
The newly-released HMRC UK property transactions report has shown that the number of residential property transactions between February and March this year is 29.3 per cent higher than the same period last year. There were 106,070 residential transactions this March, and although this is still considerably below the 2007 peak of around 150,000 per month, […]
HomeOwners Alliance responds to MMR fears
In the wake of the new mortgage rules that came into force on 26 April, after the Mortgage Market Review, the HomeOwners Alliance has seen increased interest from visitors to their site regarding the new rules. Based on the levels of interest, the Alliance has produced a short consumer guide and spokeswoman Paula Higgins said: […]
CLC launches consulation on disciplinary data
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has launched a consultation for views on publishing data about the disciplinary history of the individuals and firms it regulates. The council is seeking views on the possibility of publishing; notice of hearings of its adjudication panel, including details of the allegations and the identity of the respondent; findings of […]
FCA appoints former SRA Chief as Complaints Commissioner
The Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have announced the appointment of former SRA Chief Executive Antony Townsend as Complaints Commissioner. The Commissioner is responsible for the final stage of investigations into complaints in regarding how the FCA and the Bank, exercise, or fail to exercise, their relevant functions and the role […]
Property tycoon jailed for mortgage racket
Seven people have been sentenced after completing millions of pounds worth of mortgage fraud that involved stealing ownership of homes and remortgaging them. Four gang members were jailed, while another three were handed suspended sentences after the £3.5 million fraud which involved taking out mortgages on ten properties that were not theirs. Former property tycoon […]
Welsh councillor voices Land Registry concerns
New concerns have been raised over the future of the 400 Land Registry employees in their Swansea office. The UK Government’s plans to part-privatise the organisation, which records the details of land ownership across Wales and England, is an attempt to save money and although a consultation period ended last month, no announcements have yet […]
Beaumont Legal declared UK’s best law firm for first time buyers
Beaumont Legal, one of the country’s fastest growing law firms, has been voted Best Law Firm for Conveyancing for the second consecutive year, after the Wakefield-based solicitors clinched top honours at the 2014 First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards. Held at the Landmark Hotel, London on Friday 25th April, the awards celebrate those who are helping […]
SLC and Bold Legal Group announce CPD roadshow tie up
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) and the Bold Legal Group (BLG) have announced that they will be jointly hosting two conveyancing CPD events to be held in Woking on 4th June and Manchester on 2nd July. The two roadshows which will both start at 2.00pm and run to 6.00pm will focus on topical subjects as wide ranging […]
Enhanced Flood Reports incorporate Groundwater Flood Risk Maps – The first of its kind to be available in England and Wales
Groundwater flooding is a major problem in high risk areas but an improved report which is available from Searches UK will enable homebuyers to determine if the property they are planning to buy is at risk of being flooded. The new report which is generated by Landmark is the first of its kind to reveal […]
Searches UK welcome and introduce a new member to its rapidly expanding team!
Searches UK, the first search provider in the country to receive the sought after Legal Eye Quality Standard, is pleased to welcome a new member to its team — Natalie Mitchell. Natalie started her career in the hair industry, working as a qualified hairdresser for over 4 years; her experience in a customer facing role […]