It pays to have Lexcel!
It is now official! You pay less PI premiums if you are Lexcel qualified. The Law Society has announced that it has negotiated preferential rates for Lexcel accredited firms with a PI provider. The name of the provider has not been given but accredited firms can be put in touch with them via the Law […]
Kettel & Ors v Bloomfold Ltd [2012] EWHC 1422 (Ch) (25 May 2012)
Introduction We welcome again solicitor Mr Anis Waiz who continues his critical review of recent case law. This case raises an interesting issue as to whether a party’s entitlement to use a car parking space amounted to a demise or an easement? Certainly an issue that may not have occurred to any of the parties […]
Land Registry publishes Annual Report and Accounts for 2011/12
The Land Registry has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2011/12. The report highlights a solid year of performance against targets, the completion of major structural changes, responding to the needs of customers and embracing new responsibilities. During the last year, the Land Registry joined the Department for Business, Innovation and […]
UK House prices slip back in June
The Nationwide House Price Index for June shows that UK House prices fell by 0.6% compared with May. This represents an annual 1.5% fall in house prices. The current price of an average UK home is £165,738. The decline of house price growth in June is the lowest reading since August 2009. Robert Gardner, Chief […]
New e-document registration service on track to launch in September
In September 2012 Land Registry will launch a new e-document registration service (e-DRS) on Business Gateway. This will provide a faster and more cost-effective way to submit and receive applications electronically. The e-DRS system has been developed as part of the Land Registry’s commitment to improve its services. It will be launched in stages, […]
Casting a Legal Eye over Compliance and Risk Management
Compliance, it is a crucial part of running a law firm and covers many different areas. There is so much that law firms have to implement and keep up to date, therefore it is a challenge ensuring they are fully compliant and remain compliant. Not being proactive about compliance is an issue that can have […]
Law Society publishes list of insurers and brokers accepting common PII form
The Law Society has published its list of insurers and brokers who are accepting the PII composite form. The Society believes that a common proposal form will make life easier for its members during the PII renewal period. If further industry support for this is gained, solicitors will not have to fill out multiple […]
Residential Property team grows at Mincoffs
Newcastle firm Mincoffs have taken on a new team member to join their expanding residential conveyancing team after a successful year. The total conveyancing team has grown to five, with two new team members joining in the last six months. Mincoffs is continuing to grow through the difficult economic conditions. The turnover of the […]
SRA updates guidance to firms who are NatWest or RBS account holders
The SRA has added an update to the guidance it issued last week following the technical issues experienced by NatWest and RBS Banks. The update is shown below: We are informed that banking systems are now rectified and work is continuing on bringing account entries up to date. Some CHAPS, inward and outward payments […]
Law Society takes first step towards PII common proposal initiative
The Law Society is seeking industry-wide support from insurers and brokers as it takes its first steps towards a common PII proposal regime. It is asking brokers and insurers to use its professional indemnity insurance composite proposal form. The Society believes that a common proposal form will make life easier for its members during […]
Halifax to return valuation costs if house purchases fall through
Halifax has announced the details of its valuation fee promise, which means that Halifax will refund valuation costs to mortgage applicants if their home purchase falls through, through no fault of their own. This is the first lender to guarantee a refund of valuation costs where there is no completion. The costs will be […]
4th version of the SRA Handbook released on 21 June
The SRA published a fourth version of its Handbook on 21 June 2012. The new edition is the fourth in ten months. The changes in it relate to the SRA Handbook Glossary 2012 and the Authorisation and Practising Requirements. The main changes deal with the scheme for compliance officers to be appointed which has been […]
Council of Licensed Conveyancers issues response to Legal Ombudsman Consultation on Rules and Costs
The Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has issued its response to the consultation paper by the Legal Ombudsman ‘Review of the scheme rules and case fee structure’. The consultation proposes an extension to the timeframe in which cases can be brought and an increase in the compensation limit. It also proposes a widening of the […]
Conveyancing Association hears CML support panel information sharing
The Conveyancing Association last week listened to Paul Smee the Director General of the Council of Mortgage Lenders saying that Lenders should share information they collect from conveyancers in order to reduce the administrative burden on members of their panels. Many conveyancers are already finding the burden of lengthy repetitive forms a difficult and cumbersome […]
Legal Ombudsman looks at role of stakeholders
In his regular blog, Chief Ombudsman Adam Sampson looks at why stakeholders are important to the Legal Ombudsman. The blog can be found here. Adam Sampson starts by defining what a stakeholder is. The Legal Ombudsman uses the definition of a stakeholder as being someone who has a stake in what happens. Stakeholders at LeO […]
Ochresoft publishes cloud computing paper for the legal sector
Conveyancing workflow specialist OchreSoft has published a comprehensive white paper on cloud computing and its future role within the legal services market. Written by CTO Tony Kenyon, it seeks to define, in layman’s terms, what cloud computing is and how it differs from traditional computing models. Demystifying some of the more technical terminology, Tony looks […]
SRA issues guidance for NatWest and RBS account holders
As NatWest and RBS Banks have experienced technical problems over the last two days there has been concern about how this will affect law firms. The SRA has today published guidance on its website relating to this. The guidance released by the SRA is set out below: A number of firms will be affected by […]
SRA issues warning over Grindrods Solicitors
The SRA has issued a warning on its website over an office operating as Grindrods Solicitors in Merseyside. The alert can be seen below: Information received by the SRA indicates that an office operating as Grindrods Solicitors at 25 Haydock Street, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9AD (www.grindrodssolicitors.com) is not a legitimate branch office of the solicitor’s […]
CLC issues guidance for practices affected by bank systems breakdown
Following from the technical issues being experienced by NatWest and RBS Banks, the CLC has today issued guidance for all licence holders undertaking transactions that may be affected. The guidance is set out below: Some CLC practices will be adversely affected by the computer system problems currently being experienced by Nat West and RBS banks. […]
Gross mortgage lending up 24% in May
CML figures released today show that gross mortgage lending in May was an estimated £12.2 billion. This is a rise of 24% from April, when £9.9 billion was lent, and represents a 13% rise compared to May 2011, when the figure was 310.8 billion. Bob Pannell, CML chief economist comments: “The government has recently announced […]