Ikbal v Sterling Law [2013] EWCH 3291 (Ch)
In the latest s.61 case, a firm of solicitors was found to be in breach of trust for parting with funds to criminals without effective completion. The Claimant (I) instructed Sterling Law (S) to act for him on the purchase of a property for £350,000. The transaction proceeded normally until, without any express agreement, S […]
Never a dull day in the 2013 conveyancing year
Stephen Murray, Business Development Director at PSG, talks us through the news and events that have impacted on our sector throughout the year. Well what a year 2013 has been for our sector. The housing market showing positive signs of recovery and growth, whilst most welcome, has only been one chapter in the story. A […]
Conveyancing Association firms dominate industry awards
At last Friday’s Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year Awards Conveyancing Association (CA) members took home the top awards. CA members took the top three places in the awards taking home awards for Overall Conveyancer of the Year, as well as the gold and silver awards for Best Large Conveyancer. Rowlinsons Solicitors received not […]
First-time buyer loans at five year high
The latest Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) figures released today show that 26,800 loans were advanced to first-time buyers in October, the highest number of loans in a monthly period since November 2007. The total number of loans advanced to home-owners for house purchase was up 17% from September and 24% year-on-year. Whilst the total […]
First-time buyer market continues to rise
According to the latest market index from Haart estate agents the number of first time buyers increased 4.5% from October to November and 78.4% from November 2012. The average price that first time buyers are paying for a property has also increased 9.4% year-on-year, and 1.8% from October, to hit £155,278. This is slightly below […]
SRA discovers more insurance offenders
In troubling news for the profession, the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA has discovered a number of firms that did not enter the extended policy period (EPP) appear to have failed to declare their insurance position. These firms were discovered through a number of data-matching exercises carried out by the SRA. The firms in question have […]
Move with Us launches interactive online conveyancing system
Move with US has launched Navigator, an interactive online conveyancing system, which they believe will enable the moving process to be sped up by 11 days. Initial customer trials have shown that using Navigator can reduce the average number of days it takes to move by up to 11 days once a sale has been […]
Beaumont Legal appoints three directors in ambitious growth plan
Beaumont Legal has strengthened its position as one of the fastest-growing law firms in Yorkshire by appointing three new directors and increasing its staff count beyond 100 as part of the company’s strategy to become the UK’s largest provider of conveyancing services, while also developing other areas of its business. Bolstering the company’s management expertise, […]
To #Selfie or #Unselfie – “Help to Buy” or “Help to Build”?
Is it a sad indictment of our society that “Selfie” — a digital self-portrait — is the Oxford Dictionary “Word of the Year” or am I just a curmudgeon (my candidate for 2014 btw)? I suppose its when the already self-absorbed “C” listers harness it and the Hello Magazine readers lap it up — that […]
Mutuals lead on Funding for Lending
In the first year of the Funding for Lending Scheme building societies and other mutual lenders accounted for £15.7 billion of net lending. During the period banks and other lenders reduced their lending by over £12 billion but accounted for £16 million of the FLS pot. Paul Broadhead, Head of Mortgage Policy at the BSA […]
In-Deed Brand Acquired by Fitzalan Partners
Online conveyancing brand In-Deed has been acquired by Fitzalan Partners for an undisclosed sum. Fitzalan Partners own and operate a number of online brands within the legal and property space, including national conveyancing provider Fridaysmove. The company acquired In-Deed from Runnett & Co, who had operated In-Deed since June 2013. Chris Salmon, Director at Fitzalan […]
CRL Update – Parish Fee Waived
The Law Society reported recently that the Parochial Church Council of St Mary the Virgin in Horsell, Woking, has decided not to enforce or impose chancel repair liability on its community. For those affected in this parish there will be a huge sigh of relief to have this potentially crippling liability removed…but is that really […]
Searches UK’s shock baby joy!
Searches UK, one of the country’s leading providers of searches to UK conveyancing practitioners, is overjoyed, albeit completely surprised, to announce the news that one of their team members gave birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing 6lb 4oz on 1 November. Vicky Grace, who is a highly valued member of the Searches UK team, […]
Land Registry announces Christmas and New Year opening hours
The Land Registry has announced their amended opening hours over the holiday period. If not detailed then normal service hours will be in operation. Throughout this period Business e-services will be available in line with normal service hours. The Find a property service will continue to be available 24 hours a day. On Christmas Eve, […]
Law Society seeks views on conveyancing portal
The Law Society is calling for input on their plans for a conveyancing portal; an online platform that it hopes will make the conveyancing process easier. In order to make sure the portal meets the needs of members the Law Society is asking for responses to a 10-minute questionnaire. The closing date for this survey […]
SRA launches training consultation
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a twelve-week consultation on proposed changes to its education and training regulations. The closing date for responses is 25 February 2014. This consultation follows the publication of “Training for Tomorrow” in October, this set out the SRA’s response to its Legal Education and Training review. The proposals are […]
Home loans at highest level since January 2008
The latest Mortgage Monitor from e.surv has shown that 71,920 home loans were advanced in November. This was the first time since January 2008 that the figure went above 70,000 and represented a 6% increase from October and a 34% increase year-on-year. 13% of all house purchase approvals were to high LTV borrowers, with 9,493 […]
Conveyancer of Year awards handed out
The winners were crowned at the Conveyancer of the Year Awards on Friday 6th December at the Lancaster London Hotel. The awards formed part of the Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year Awards and followed a conveyancing summit looking at key issues facing the industry. Rowlinsons Solicitors took home the award for best conveyancer […]
Conveyancing Association launches Protocol
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has worked together with Connells, Move with Us, Countrywide and LSL Property Services, to develop the CA Protocol in a bid to make the conveyancing process more efficient. According to research the CA commissioned over the last five years, consumers believe that 23% of all home purchases or sales have fallen […]
Law Society on Lender Exchange
Des Hudson, Chief Executive of the Law Society, has written to all members expressing concern about the potential danger Lender Exchange poses to firms that do conveyancing. Lloyds, RBS and Santander recently announced that from early 2014, they would be mandating conveyancers to register panel management applications through the Lender Exchange platform run by Decision […]