Tributes flood in for “True Inspiration”
After the announcement last week of the death of Sarah Edmundson, tributes have flooded in from across the sector for the property industry advocate and driving force behind the Agents Together charity who lost her battle with breast cancer aged 38. An ongoing fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Now, prominent at the recent ESTAS Awards, […]
Work – Life balance needs to be our Mission
As we acknowledge World Mental Health Day on October 10th the importance of good mental health and wellbeing comes into the spotlight once again. It is truly inspiring to see so many business leaders taking action to create positive working environments, where the infrastructure of the organisation supports a genuinely caring culture, with wellbeing and […]
The Secret Diary of a High Street Conveyancer | Could charging for extra work earn us respect?
In this week’s diary entry the Secret High Street Conveyancer talks about a subject close to their heart. As they dealt with a client over email, the question of fees arose…. In the middle of this last week, I received an email: “Hi You have been recommended to me by my good friends, X and […]
Conveyancing Essentials – Join Our Special Four-Part Webinar Series from Stewart Title
Stewart Title UK has teamed up with property expert Ian Quayle to offer a new, free CPD webinar series. Starting Monday 23rd September, the four-week series Conveyancing Essentials — From Instruction to Registration will cover the entire conveyancing process, complete with practical tips and expert commentary on each stage of a residential property transaction. Stephen […]
The Commercial CON29DW – everything you need to know
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Drainage and Water Searches Network (DWSN) has developed a series of webinars delving into the questions contained within a CON29DW search. Our second webinar, held on 27th June 2024, CON29DW Commercial: Everything you need to know, explored the complexities of the CON29DW Commercial. The recording from the webinar is […]
Collapse in renter affordability and bill payment failures show weaknesses in our finances
The government released this data today, within its data covering economic activity and social change titled Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk). Renters spend 28.8 per cent of their income on the rent – up from 26.6 per cent a year earlier and 25 per cent […]
QualitySolicitors – The next chapter
As one of the disruptors in the wake of the Legal Services Act 2007 QualitySolicitors (QS) was launched in 2009 with the ambition to help the high street fight back against the anticipated onslaught of major brands entering the legal market – so-called ‘Tesco Law.’ QS grew rapidly, with firms up and down the country […]
Renters’ Rights Bill latest – Section 21’s End and New Eviction Rules
The Renters’ Rights Bill had its first reading in Parliament yesterday. It included the abolition of Section 21, the no-fault eviction that was promised, but not enacted, by the previous administration. The bill is set to bring substantial changes to the property rental sector, with many landlords and key figures in the industry expressing concerns […]
The client money debate: is the SRA on the right lines?
There’s no escaping the fact that conveyancing firms face a whole host of different issues when it comes to completing any transaction. From dealing with huge peaks and troughs in demand to combatting the risk of fraud and cybercrime, rekeying errors and ongoing client liaison, the challenges are numerous. Treatment of interest gained on client […]
Transforming Conveyancing Processes With Digital
The conveyancing industry has long been burdened by manual processes that lead to inefficiencies, time delays, and potential errors when performing tasks. As a former paralegal, I’ve experienced firsthand the frustrations of traditional conveyancing methods that are no longer fit for purpose. “Digital” is the way to go. Digital solutions offer the ability to transform […]
Extending a Mortgage by 10 Years Will Cost The Average First-time Buyer An Extra £110,640
Online mortgage broker Mojo Mortgages analysed their internal mortgage data and uncovered that the average first-time buyer in the UK is 33 years and 8 months old when they purchase their first home. With an average mortgage term of 30 years, this means that the average first-time buyer won’t pay off their mortgages until they’re 63 […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer: Fall-through Friday
I am acting for a lovely young couple. They are buying their first home together and are very excited about it. This is the second house that they are trying to buy – the first house had a loft conversion with no consents; the usual issues had arisen around the Particulars of Sale indicating the […]
How can conveyancers boost their AML compliance?
The SRA has made no secret of its mission, partly brought on by pressure from the government, to crack down on firms who do not have adequate systems in place to prevent money laundering. Further reform to the SRA’s approach on financial penalties came into force in the middle of 2023. For all firms, where […]
The Diary of a High Street Conveyancer: July 5th 2024
I love the Olympics. I went to the Olympics in London in 2012 and was fortunate enough to be in the stadium when Mo Farah won his second gold medal and the Jamaican relay team broke the world record in the four by one hundred metre relay – that meant that I was lucky enough […]
Base rate cut ‘signals confidence in a continued low inflationary environment’
The industry has come forward to comment on the Bank of England’s base rate cut, saying it signifies a ‘growing confidence’ in a low inflation environment after Labour started to head the UK government. The Bank of England has reduced interest rates from 5.25% to 5%, marking the first decrease since the start of the […]
Peddling to Perugia for mental health
In an effort to raise awareness and funds for mental health research, James Smith, as an Ambassador for the Mindstep Foundation, is cycling over 2,300 Kilometres from his home in London to Perugia, Italy. James is the son in law of Conveyancing Foundation Chairman, Lloyd Davies, and husband of Georgia Davies. The journey, which began […]
CA announces September webinar on Client and Matter Risk Assessments
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has announced an upcoming webinar for member firms focused on client and matter risk assessments, scheduled for September. The session will take place on the 11th September at 10am and is entitled, ‘Client and Matter Risk Assessments: What You Need to Do to Ensure Compliance,’ hosted by industry expert, Norman Denton, Senior […]
Koodoo and Smoove Partner
Koodoo, mortgage technology provider, has announced a new partnership with Smoove, utilising its eConveyancer platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the homebuying process by integrating Smoove’s network of local solicitors and advanced digital platform into Koodoo’s services. This partnership underscores Koodoo’s dedication to leveraging advanced technology to enhance internal efficiency and provide consumers with a […]
The King’s Speech promises legislation that will protect renters and leasehold reform
At the state opening of parliament, the King announced in his speech that renters will have ‘greater rights’ and draft legislation on leasehold and commonhold reforms. MPs made their way to the House of Peers from the commons today to attend King Charles and Queen Camilla for the King’s second speech since being crowned monarch. […]
PEXA opens up doors to integration
Digital property exchange platform PEXA has said it has opened up its doors to industry integration with the launch of a new ‘API Hub’ which provides access to all their available APIs, speeding up and easing customer integrations. Describing the development as ‘significant,’ PEXA UK say the APIs are ‘key to powering the delivery of […]
