SRA appoints new Chief Executive
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced Paul Philip will join as their next Chief Executive on 1st February 2014. Mr Phillip is currently the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of the General Medical Council, the regulator of doctors in the UK. There is he is responsible for over 1,000 staff and an […]
Land Registry update: new paper applications procedures
On 1st October the Land Registration (Proper Office) Order 2013 came into place changing the process for paper applications. You will now be able to send your paper applications to an office based on your location, rather than that of the property concerned. This should simplify the process as you can send all applications to […]
Rowlinsons shortlisted for top award
Frodsham based law firm Rowlinsons Solicitors has been shortlisted in the Practice Management category at the Law Society Excellence Awards. The award is given to firms who hold the Law Society’s coveted Lexcel quality standard and show new and innovative ways of implementing Lexcel. Andrew Graves, Director, Rowlinsons Solicitors said: "We are delighted to be […]
Firms fail to secure insurance
According to the Law Society Gazette almost 70 firms have failed to secure indemnity insurance before the renewal deadline closed last Monday. Firms were given an additional five days by the SRA to inform them of their plans so this figure may have changed. Last year, 29 firms applied to go into the former assigned […]
Further Expansion at Convey Law National Conveyancing Specialists continue to expand their legal team.
Convey Law, one of the largest specialist residential conveyancing companies in the UK, continues its expansion this year in hiring three new Conveyancers. The company, based in Newport, South Wales has enjoyed a successful year, comfortably growing their client and introducer base throughout the period. This latest recruitment drive follows a similar expansion earlier […]
Searches UK proudly sponsers ABS (up to 50 employees) award at Modern Law Magazine’s awards evening!
Searches UK, one of the leading providers of searches to UK conveyancing practitioners, were proud sponsors at the inaugural Modern Law Awards 2013 which took place last week in the truly exquisite surrounds of The Dorchester in London. The Awards were attended by some of the biggest, best and most respected law firms in […]
CLC publishes business plan for next year
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers published yesterday its high level business plan to 2014, revealing that it will play to its strengths in property law. The business plan is designed to cope with the changing demands of regulating the sector whilst retaining a key focus on the organisations strengths. Chair, CLC, Anna Bradley said: “The […]
PC renewals deadline reminder from SRA
The SRA has issued a warning to that there are just 28 days remaining for firms and individuals to complete this year’s PC renewals exercise. They say that less than a fifth of the regulated community has created or submitted an application. The deadline for PC renewals is Thursday, 31 October. The revocation process will […]
Mutual lending increases 32%
In August gross lending by mutuals increased 32% to £4bn, up from £3bn in August 2012. According to the latest figures from the Building Societies Association (BSA) gross lending by mutuals for the first eight months of the year stands at £26.1 billion, 30% higher than same period in 2012. One in three new loans […]
Estate agent predicts 10-15% increase in transactions
haart estate agents has predicted that the second phase of the Help to Buy scheme will cause a substantial uplift in the housing market. They believe that both first time buyers will ripple up the housing ladder helping to ease the log jam resulting from a shortage of property to sell that exists presently. Paul […]
Last chance to enter the Estate Agency Events Conveyancer of the Year Awards 2013
‘I think winning the award at an Estate Agency ceremony is particularly important because obviously we are serving not just the customer who is buying the house but also the agents to whom we feel we are part of the team as well.’ — Paul Fenton, Cunningtons Solicitors, winners 2012. Are you looking to increase […]
Float Like A Butterfly, Sting like a Bee
When the old boxer returns to ring for one last fight — many of us wince. We see a deluded individual trying to recreate past glories and we know that he is doomed to humiliating failure. I have reflected on this several times in the last few weeks — ahead of the impending launch of […]
Ahmad v Secret Garden (Cheshire) Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 1005
Introduction This case provides a very useful resume of the law on rectification and the courts powers where it is alleged the terms of a contract do not reflect the parties’ agreement. It is worth recounting that rectification is an equitable remedy. The court may refuse it if for example an innocent third party has […]
‘Help to buy’: Choose a specialist conveyancer or risk your sale
Kathryn Taylor, a spokesperson for the Conveyancing Association responds to the Prime Minister’s announcement that the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme will be extended to all properties from next week, three months earlier than expected. Commenting on today’s announcement Kathryn Taylor, a spokesperson for the Conveyancing Association and Managing Partner at Gordon Brown LLP, says: “Today’s […]
Conveyancing Association firms dominate Industry Awards
Conveyancing Association (CA) members won seven out of twelve awards at the ‘Law Firm Services Conveyancing Awards’ in Coventry on Thursday, demonstrating more than ever that CA members are the best of the best in the highly competitive conveyancing industry. In fact, CA member firms won 18 of the 36 first, second and third prizes […]
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act: Subject Access Requests (SAR’s) – What data controllers need to do to comply?
Section 7(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the ‘Act’) gives individuals the right to access their personal data (subject access data). By making a written request and paying a fee, an individual is entitled to see the information which is the personal data; and any information available to the data controller about the source […]
Countrywide announces Lambert Smith Hampton acquisition
Countrywide plc announced on Thursday that they have entered into an agreement with Lambert Smith Hampton Acquisitions Limited, and Sankaty European Investments Sarl to acquire Lambert Smith Hampton Limited for a total cash consideration of £34.1 million. Countrywide will acquire the entire issued share capital of Lambert Smith Hampton, free from all existing non-trade borrowings […]
Safe-Move hit charity milestone
On 9th August, Safe-Move walked, jogged and sprinted(!) their own Race for Life between their offices in Midway and the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Shelf. The event meant that since 2007 Safe-Move has raised over £10,000 for charity. Over the last couple of years, Safe-Move have raised money through this event for the Breast […]
BRM Solicitors expands residential property team
BRM Solicitors has announced the appointment or a new Partner and Head of their Residential Property Department. Stuart Taphouse, a former Director of Banner Jones Limited and latterly a partner at James Peters & Co will start at the firm on 1st October. Julie Gretton, a solicitor with over 20 years in the legal profession […]
Property transactions reach four year high
The latest property transaction figures released by the Land Registry show that non-seasonally adjusted transactions were at their highest level since December 2009. 89,460 transactions were carried out in August, up 0.4% up on July and 19.2% up on August last year. Paul Smith, CEO of haart estate agent, said: “More good news for the […]