Four local authorities join local land charges register in January
Property buyers in Plymouth, Sutton, Babergh and Mid Suffolk can now obtain the information they need quickly, simplifying the conveyancing process for everyone. HM Land Registry has accelerated the pace of local authority migrations. This month, Plymouth City Council, Sutton Council, Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council joined the Local Land Charges (LLC) […]
Bricks shortages and rising product prices predicted
Bricks and roof tiles are in short supply with demand outstripping supply against a backdrop of rising inflation, the Construction Leadership Council, CLC, has warned. Imports of bricks from the EU and globally are set to continue until three new UK brickmaking plants come on stream next year and in 2024. The new factories are […]
91% of agents say upfront information “must be mandated” – conveyancers share their views
A recent survey taken by PropTech platform Gazeal suggests that an overwhelming number of estate agents want the government to mandate the provision of upfront property information. The survey, conducted during a recent webinar attended by hundreds of estate agents, revealed that 91% of respondents said the government should mandate upfront property information. Another survey […]
Early Bird Tickets for The British Conveyancing Awards released
Early bird tickets for The British Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Dye & Durham, are now available. The awards will take place on 15th March 2022 as a hybrid event, with an in-person ceremony simultaneously live streamed via The British Conveyancing Awards website. The glitzy in-person ceremony will be a black tie event at the fabulous Church House in […]
Residential property transactions exceed 1 million for first time in a decade
HMRC’s December residential transaction figures indicate a steadying market as the annual number of sales exceeds 1 million for the first time in a decade. Figures show that the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate for December 2021 sales transactions is 113,470, 14.6% lower than December 2020 and 11.8% higher than November 2021. Although sale volumes for December […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer; 24th January 2022
One of my teenagers volunteers on a Saturday afternoon in the local Oxfam book and record shop. I popped in to see her this weekend, and as always, I am staggered at how many good quality, recent books are available. I think that is to do with the “buy one, get one free” approach of […]
Conveyancing Association launch guidance on cladding to member firms
Following further Government intervention to support the removal of dangerous cladding in buildings between 11-18 metres high, The Conveyancing Association (CA) – the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry – has launched a new “Guidance on Cladding” document to help steer member firms on what they should be looking for and how they should […]
MyIdentity convinces estate agents digital scheme proves “easier and quicker”
Etive Limited, coordinators of the MyIdentity scheme for home buying and selling, announce today that Estate Agents are seeing the benefits of the digital identity scheme. Lantana Estates Limited, an award-winning estate agents based in London, is working as part of the scheme’s Beta test project and were able to carry out the identity verification […]
Welcome to 2022
Welcome to 2022. Given the rollercoaster ride the sector enjoyed/endured in 2021, I’m sure many conveyancing firms will be hoping for a few less ups and downs over the course of the next 12 months, or at least a bigger “notice period” in terms of what might be coming down the tracks. Of course, the […]
If it’s not broken don’t fix it
Previously published as a LinkedIn post, David Pett, Director of MJP Conveyancing, shares his views on the upfront information debate. This might be controversial, however, I believe what I have to say here should be aired and debated. Our conveyancing system has remained more or less untouched for close on 100 years. In 2007 there was an […]
Break down the barriers: the barriers to entering the legal profession
Not being able to get work experience whilst in school, attending the wrong university, the inability to afford the necessary qualifications and fierce competition are only some of the barriers to entry into the legal profession. Third year law student, Abby Spalding, discusses the challenges faced by aspiring lawyers today. The popularity of law in […]
What do property professionals make of “The New Normal”? Find out what almost 800 had to say
Available to download now, the latest research from tmgroup, mio and Conveyancing Data Services (CDS) – “The New Normal” report – brings together the voices of nearly 800 property professionals; comparing how different professions are faring in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak and revealing stark contrasts across the industry – as the report reveals: […]
Judge Spotlight: Stephen Desmond
Judging awards ceremonies can often be a thankless task. But without the support of the people who spend hours toiling away reviewing the submissions, the awards simply would not happen. On behalf of Today’s Conveyancer and Headline Sponsor Dye & Durham, we are incredibly grateful to all our judging panel who we are showcasing through […]
New laws proposed to strengthen the UK’s resilience from cyber attack
Government is consulting on new measures to boost British businesses’ cyber security after recent high profile attacks. New laws are needed to drive up security standards in outsourced IT services used by almost all UK businesses, the government says. Other proposals being published include making improvements in the way organisations report cyber security incidents and […]
HSBC may tighten mortgage lending criteria
HSBC may introduce stricter affordability tests for mortgage products due to the effects of inflation which, experts say, may reduce the amount that its customers can afford to pay. The bank is reportedly reviewing its current mortgage lending criteria amid concerns that the rising cost of living and rocketing house prices are putting an additional […]
New service launches to help older leaseholders obtain lease extensions
Lifetime Mortgage Gateway (LMG) launches a first-of-its-kind service to help older homeowners trapped with short leases obtain lease extensions using equity release and access cash. Lifetime Mortgage Gateway (LMG), a new service facilitating lease extensions for large numbers of older homeowners trapped with short leases, has been launched by LMG Logistics (LMGL). Older homeowners with […]
Book Review: The Conveyancing Handbook (28th Edition)
After practising in property law for more years than I care to remember, I have often had reason to reach for the Conveyancing Handbook, and not just to find something heavy enough to prop the door open with. Got a transaction between connected parties? Look it up in the index and find out. Want to […]
Join our webinar for an update on the end of PDF AP1’s
Join us on Tuesday 25th January at 2pm for a free webinar with Paul Clyde and Archie Courage of FormEvo. In the 30 minute webinar, Paul and Archie will discuss how to create advantages for your firm following the Land Registry announcement ending the use of PDF AP1s. During the webinar, Paul will […]
Minerva selects Armalytix’s Source of Funds technology to complete 48-hour client onboarding solution for legal market
Armalytix, which uses open banking technology to streamline the collection of data for the professional and financial services industries, has been selected by Minerva, an electronic onboarding solution for law firms, to create an intelligent, digital onboarding service for the legal market and estate agents. Minerva’s client onboarding solution speeds up the end-to-end process for […]
Making the most of the software you employ
Since the year 2000, the global e-learning market has grown by 900 percent, with attention to 2020, where the demand for professional learning during the pandemic grew exponentially. As a direct result of COVID-19, business dynamics were shifted and many employees adopted a hybrid approach to working, meaning focus quickly shifted within businesses internally, to […]