Sellers chance their arm with high price listings
The price of property coming to market has surged past last month’s record and jumped by an average of 1.8% (+£5,983) this month according to Rightmove’s October House Price Index. With inflation threatening the continuing of record law interest rates, buyers are moving quickly to take advantage before potential rate rises; which could come quicker […]
Estate agents should do more to tackle conveyancing fraud
A leading compliance specialist in the estate agency market has suggested that estate agents should be doing more to support efforts to complete customer due diligence and tackle money laundering. Compliance Officer for The Guild of Property Professionals, Paul Offley, has said that agents should be following “best practice” to establish the legal/beneficial owner of […]
How has stamp duty evolved over the past 25 years?
The cost of Stamp Duty Land Tax to the average homebuyers has increased by 490% over the last 25 years. The analysis has been conducted by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, and also reveals that as a result of the significant increase in house prices the average bill post 30th September 2020 […]
Hybrid working opens up new opportunities for widening commuter belts
In a national survey of full or part-time employed people 9 in 10 workers (92%), who now increasingly divide their time between home and the office, would be willing to commute further to buy or rent their desired property or live in their preferred location The survey also found that 69% of hybrid workers are […]
Clio Launches Brand-New Hub for Law Firms
Running a law firm can be one of the most rewarding undertakings a legal professional will undertake, and the right support and resources can make that experience all the more rewarding. That is why legal practice management software provider Clio has just launched a brand-new learning hub, called The Making of a Law Firm Hub. […]
Long term stability predicted for housing market
Buyers are starting to return to the UK housing market but have little choice of new properties in the short term, while sentiment indicates longer term stability in the housing market according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey. The anticipated fall in demand in the run up to the Stamp Duty deadline has now […]
Conveyancing industry losing talented women due to the menopause
Panic attacks, tinnitus, mood swings, brain fog, and extreme pain are just some of the many symptoms that can make it near-impossible for women to continue working when the menopause strikes. For many, this costs them their confidence and careers and for some women despair associated with Menopause can lead to suicide. For businesses, the […]
Further details of cladding remediation tax announced
The government have released further details of the “Residential Property Developer Tax” (RPDT) which is aimed at funding the remediation costs of replacing dangerous cladding on leasehold properties. The Tax will be levied on the profits of companies carrying out residential property development. The tax applies to profits arising in accounting periods ending on or after […]
PracticeEvolve Announce Client Success Programme to Increase Client’s Competency in Software
PracticeEvolve Group, incorporating Linetime and SOS, have announced the recruitment of a team of Client Success Consultants in response to enhancing software competency. The Client Success Consultants are just one of a number of initiatives from the forward-thinking group. With whole system pricing, the group are pro-actively planning for firms wanting to establish an in-depth […]
ULS technology completes purchase of Amity Law
ULS technology, a leading provider of digital products and services in the home moving market, has completed the acquisition of Bolton based property law firm, Amity Law, to help strengthen its offering to the legal profession. The acquisition will enable ULS technology to build, pilot and evolve new digital products in a live environment, providing […]
“No happiness like taking a set of keys” says Johnson outlining plans at Conference
“There is no happiness like taking a set of keys, and knowing that the place is yours and you can paint the front door any colour you like. As it happens I am not allowed to paint my own front door, it has to be black” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative party conference keynote speech […]
SDLT holiday fuels record house price growth
Average house prices in the UK are now at a record-breaking high as Halifax records fastest growth in 14 years. The latest Halifax House Price Index reveals that after three months of decline, the average house price now stands at a record breaking £267,587, 7.4% higher than this time last year. The report also shows […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer; 11th October 2021
I was listening to the radio earlier and there was an actress being interviewed. She was asked about theatres being closed during lockdowns and how it now felt to be back on stage. She told the interviewer that she loved her work, she loved acting and it was a pleasure to be back on stage […]
HMLR Practice Guide updates
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has published details of changes to several Practice Guides in its latest update. First registrations (PG1) This guide deals with the procedure to be followed when applying for first registration of unregistered estates in land. It does not deal with the effects of registration or the characteristics of the various […]
AML update – are you keeping up to date!
Access Legal’s latest quarterly AML update webinar is being held on 14 October 2021 at 12.30pm, and as usual we will be joined by Bill Jones, a financial crime specialist. With Natwest Bank facing a substantial fine for AML non-compliance, the release of the Pandora papers, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority launching investigations into 10% […]
Changes to the NPPF: letter to the Planning Inspectorate
A letter from the Minister of State for Housing to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate regarding recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been published. Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, has written to Sarah Richards, Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, to confirm that guidance has been published on the way […]
Creating or Challenging Easements – A new webinar from Stewart Title
Easements can be a benefit or a burden for landowners literally as well as legally, so Conveyancers need to know how to prove or challenge the existence of an easement. The recent decision from the Upper Tribunal in the case of Hughes v Benefice of Frampton on Severn showing the current judicial thinking on this area of law is […]
“Brownfield First” report calls for greenfield surcharge
A major new report by the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) is calling for a new greenfield surcharge in a bid to encourage future brownfield development. “Brownfield First” proposals suggest that a greenfield surcharge would be used by local authorities for infrastructure spending to help mitigate the higher costs associated with brownfield developments, therefore encouraging developers […]
Pirie Palmann acquired by Simply Conveyancing
Simply Conveyancing has announced the acquisition of Peterborough-based Pirie Palmann as part of an ambitious growth drive that it says will see it become one of the largest and most experienced conveyancing practices in the UK. Simply Conveyancing, which was founded in 2000, is backed by PE investors Livingbridge and has expanded rapidly in recent […]
Low mortgage rates continuing to drive property market
Latest Bank of England reports show that mortgage and savings rates remain at rock bottom, with some savings rates at record lows. The Bank of England has reported that average savings rates have dropped to below 0.1% with August’s figures reporting lows of just 0.09%. New fixed rate accounts are showing averages of just 0.29%. […]