Land Registry’s Peterborough office move
On 25 February, the Land Registry’s Peterborough office, including the Customer Information Centre will be moving. The new address is: Land Registry Peterborough Office Stuart House City Road Peterborough PE1 1QF To visit the Peterborough Customer Information Centre you will need to make an appointment, giving at least 24 hours’ notice. Customer Information Centres are […]
Government trials relaxation in planning rules
Following Mary Portas’s review on the future of UK high streets, the government has announced it will be trialling a series of changes in planning regulations. They have said that they want to promote the use of brownfield land to assist regeneration, and get empty and underused buildings back into productive use. The changes will […]
Internal staff fraud on the increase
The CIFAS Staff Fraud Database has revealed a significant increase in the level of fraud committed by employees during 2012. A 43% increase was seen across all types of staff fraud in 2012 compared to 2011. Fraudulent attempts to obtain employment were a particular problem, with a doubling in this type of fraud in 2012. […]
Mortgage lending on the increase
The latest figures from the Bank of England show December marked the fifth consecutive increase in lending with 55,785 mortgages approved. The average for the previous six months was 50,058. This was the highest number of approvals since January 2012, possibly showing that the government’s Funding for Lending scheme might be starting to have an […]
Equity release continues to rise
For the second consecutive year the equity release market expansion continued, with the average customer taking out an equity release plan in 2012 releasing £52,268, an increase of 7% on 2011’s £49,000. According to analysis from leading independent equity release adviser Key Retirement Solutions, the total funds released across the market increased 15% to £961.41 […]
Numbers up for search supermarket ETSOS
Conveyancing search supermarket ETSOS is celebrating its third birthday with a triple whammy that underscores its continued success in what remains a tough market. It reports that it now has 10% of the top 100 conveyancing firms, and 20% of the top 200, with those share figures helping to propel ETSOS to 43% annual growth […]
A case study by OchreSoft
Introduction Gloucester-based Dee & Griffin may be the classic traditional High Street firm in terms of its breadth of private client services but it has also worked hard over the past decade to differentiate itself through its commitment to customer service. An exceptionally high level of referral work and repeat custom testifies to the success […]
SRA warning: May, May & Merrimans
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a warning involving con artists claiming to be from May, May & Merrimans. This is the second warning this week relating to a con artists pretending to represent a genuine firm regulated by the SRA. The SRA has been informed that a number of individuals across the country […]
1000 firms at risk of Santander panel removal
Up to 1,000 firms have just 59 days left to obtain the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation mark, or risk being removed from Santander’s conveyancing panel. In September last year, the bank changed the terms of its residential conveyancing panel to require all existing, as well as new, member firms to gain accreditation. Existing […]
COLPs and COFAs: issues with 1,200 nominees
The SRA have revealed that 1,200 nominees did not declare “potentially relevant issues” — including undisclosed criminal convictions, serious disciplinary sanctions and undeclared bankruptcy. A total of 145 firms are facing enforcement action for failing to complete nominations for the positions. A substantial minority of these have also not begun their practicing certificate renewals, and they are […]
SRA warning: misuse of Alker and Ball name
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned of con artists claiming to be from legitimate law firm Alker and Ball. The public are advised that the e-mail address alkerandball@lawyer.com and the mobile telephone number 01942 366742 are not legitimate contact details for solicitors practice Alker and Ball. Any business or transactions using those details are […]
SRA praised for consumer focus
A Legal Services Consumer Panel report has praised the SRA for making consumers’ lives easier when choosing legal services and understanding their rights. The report is entitled “Empowering Consumers Background Paper 2: learning from other sectors” and available here. Ten themes are used to measure success in the report, which measures policy across a number […]
Risk of negligence due to snow
Conveyancers have been warned of the need to carry out more flood searches to avoid accusations of negligence, as parts of the country face the threat of flood from melting snow. On Tuesday, the Environment Agency said there were currently 50 flood warning across the country — with a further 180 flood alerts. According to […]
STL enhances its online property search ordering platform
STL has enhanced its online order site to help firms take more control of their own search accounts and save a significant amount of administrative time. As well as ordering all searches and indemnities through a single provider, amongst a range of other changes, users can now track the progress of their orders, download their […]
OchreSoft proves hot property for Slater & Gordon Lawyers
Legal workflow specialist, OchreSoft, has announced details of its first win of 2013. It has been appointed by Top 50 law firm, Slater & Gordon Lawyers (S&G) (Formerly Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors), to deliver its Intelliworksâ„¢ Conveyancing software across S&G’s Property team. The project, which has already gone live just five weeks after signing, […]
Move with Us announces partnership with Pattinson Estate Agents
One of the largest panel managers of conveyancing in the UK, Move with Us, has announced a new partnership with Pattinson Estate Agents. The group will partner Pattinson, one of the largest independent estate agency groups in the UK, with 33 offices in the North East. Move with Us manage over 40,000 transactions per year. […]
Insurance gets own aisle in search supermarket
Conveyancing search supermarket ETSOS has brought in a new product line for early 2013 with the addition of title insurance.Users now enjoy one-click access to a range of specialist products via the ETSOS ordering portal, removing the need to go into separate systems or deal with two supplier accounts. The search provider has partnered with […]
SRA consultation on penalties
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation asking for feedback on the fines it can levy against firms and individuals that have breached the Code of Conduct. The proposals look to make the fining criteria more consistent and transparent. If approved, the policy would adopt a three-step approach to determining the level of […]
Judge declares laws for co-habiting unfair
In a case last week, Lord Justice Toulson remarked that property laws relating to those co-habiting offered little legal protection to non-married couples whose relationships break down. He referred to a report that was published by the Law Commission in 2007 that recommended current property laws be reformed to give those in cohabiting relationships the […]
Mixed reports on remortgage market
According to data from the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) monthly gross remortgage lending fell by £404m in December to £2.7bn. This represents a fall of 13.0% from November reversing a strong September and October. The figures also showed a fall of 9.3% in total gross mortgage lending in December, to £11.7bn. This meant as […]