Diary Of A High Street Conveyancer: 27th November 2023
As I mentioned last week, it is difficult managing expectations coming into the Christmas period. It is also hard to manage those expectations when we know that estate agents want as many matters to exchange prior to the Christmas break even if completion is not until the New Year. It stops people changing their minds […]
Leasehold reform: Striking a balance for fairness and sustainability in the housing sector
The announcement of the Leasehold and Freehold Bill in the King’s Speech was clearly a landmark moment for the sector, not least for all leaseholders themselves and all those stakeholders – including the CA – who have long-campaigned for their rights. To say we were relieved to see this Bill in the King’s Speech would […]
Diary Of A High Street Conveyancer: 20th November 2023
It is that time of year again – we are coming up to Christmas … so we have the mad rush of those house movers who did not realise that Christmas was on the 25th December (even though it is not a movable feast day like Easter!) and those who just want to be in […]
Better integrating surveys into the home moving process
This week the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast welcomes Rachel Griffiths Head of External Operations and Panel Management at SDL Surveyors. SDL Surveyors are one of the largest independent providers of mortgage valuations with over 200,000 cases per year. They also provide private home surveys directly on behalf of consumers and the topic of discussion in this […]
ESTAS winners have their say…
It was a double celebration at the 2023 ESTAS Awards three weeks ago, as this year we marked our twentieth birthday and the hailed the best of the best from the property industry. Although it’s been a somewhat challenging twelve months, the cream really has risen to the top and over the last year the […]
How is the UK housing market set to change in 2024?
In recent years, property prices have largely followed a consistent upward trajectory; however the last 12 months have been anything but smooth sailing for the housing market. A combination of factors from rising interest rates, falling property prices, and shaky public confidence have been a perfect storm for the property market that looks to have […]
Demystifying the SQE: A Comprehensive Guide to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has been a topic of conversation and interest in the legal community for some time. As the newest route to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales, it represents a significant change in the traditional path to legal qualification. In this blog, we aim to demystify the SQE by exploring its […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 13th November 2023
When I started practising conveyancing thirty plus years ago, leasehold conveyancing was very different. One of my most distinct memories was being asked to go to a local firm of freeholders/managing agents in the town with a Notice of Assignment and two guineas (but in new money – I’m not that old!) within twenty eight […]
CA ‘relieved’ to see Leasehold and Freehold Bill in King’s Speech
The Conveyancing Association (CA) said it is “relieved” to see a Leasehold and Freehold Bill in this week’s King’s Speech, however urged the Government to also look at other key areas such as the introduction of Commonhold and the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA). The King’s Speech included a specific Leasehold and Freehold Bill which […]
Course Considerations: CLC vs. SQE Unpacked
In a previous article we discussed which route to legal qualification might be right for aspiring legal professionals by taking a high-level view of CLC and SQE. In this article we will take a closer look at the qualification routes to see what is required to be successful in each and to consider the differences. […]
How Law Firms Should Be Utilising Video Content: Engaging, Informative, and Effective
Video is judged by over 54% of marketers to be the most effective way of grabbing attention. When we’re scrolling through social media, it’s easy to scroll past content. What we need to do is get people to stop and to look at our content. Video is an incredibly useful way to do this. It’s […]
Choosing Your Path: CLC vs. SQE – Which Route to Legal Qualification is Right for You?
Aspiring legal professionals often face a crucial decision when embarking on their journey to legal qualification: choosing between the long established Licensed Conveyancer (CLC) route and the increasingly popular Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route. Law Training Centre specialise in the provision of both pathways, each of which offer distinct advantages and cater to different career […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 6th November 2023
I am acting on the sale of a property for a relative who is selling the property on behalf of his father – it is very sad circumstances. It is always interesting to hear what happens in the lives of those selling or buying in relation to the transaction as there are things that we […]
HS2 – What will happen now?
What is HS2? HS2 is a 250-mile high-speed railway line between the Northwest and Southeast, stopping at Manchester, Birmingham, and London, with trains continuing the existing network to Scotland and beyond. It aims to address three key problems facing our current railway network: capacity, carbon, and connectivity. On 4th October 2023, Rishi Sunak announced that […]
The Ombudsman’s Corner: November 2023
Our approach to dealing with complaints about delay Along with poor communication, delays are the most common area of complaint that the Legal Ombudsman receives – last year, 21% of complaints that we investigated were either about an unreasonable delay or failure to progress. Unfortunately, many of the complaints that we see are avoidable. This […]