The LMS Podcast: First-of-its-kind Industry Pilot Results
Our 11th episode is a follow-up to the previous podcast, in which we introduced our industry one-of-a-kind trial, turning concepts into reality through cross-collaboration within the sector. Now, as we have progressed with the pilot, we are sharing some stats to highlight what we’re discovering, what we’ve achieved, and some of the challenges we’ve faced. […]
LMS Monthly Remortgage Snapshot – December Report
The latest LMS remortgage snapshot for December 2024 has been released providing insight into the current condition of the remortgage market. “All signs have been positive through the back end of 2024; the home-mover market has been buoyant, and remortgages bounced back towards the end of the year. However, has the new government stifled this […]
Foreign home-ownership up 2.6% year on year
Research has suggested foreign ownership of home in England and Wales is up 2.6% year on year, with Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, UAE and China making up the top five countries foreign owners reside. A freedom of information request to HM Land Registry by lettings and estate agent Benham and Reeves has revealed 189,793 […]
Homeowner demand up 4.2% on same time last year – Report
A quarterly ‘Hotspot Index’ by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, suggests an overall increase in demand for home buying over the course of 2024. GetAgent’s Hotspots Demand Index monitors homebuyer demand across England on a quarterly basis. Current demand is based on the proportion of stock listed as already sold (sold subject to contract or […]
The good, the bad and the awkward: What clients say about their first impressions of law firms
First impressions are critical, especially for law firms. Clients often approach with high-stakes concerns, looking for more than just expertise – they want empathy, professionalism and reassurance. The Law Firm Marketing Club’s What Clients Want 2024 research posed a key question: “How did you first contact the law firm, and what was your first impression?” Respondents […]
Rightmove predicts 1.15m transactions in 2025
The annual jostling around predictions for the 2025 property is well underway with Rightmove the latest to lend its thoughts on what the 2025 property market might look like. The headlines from the property portal’s predictions include an uplift in transaction volumes; a series of Bank of England base rate cuts throughout the year, and a […]
Market enters 2025 with momentum but proceed with caution – RICS
A fifth successive month of increased buyer demand will see the property market enter 2025 in rude but there is a warning from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors a reduction in market appraisals could see a slowdown in the opening months of next year. The data is taken from RICS monthly UK Residential Survey, […]
Change in the Property Market: A Conversation, Not a Revolution
Last month, I was at a digital conveyancing conference, where the excitement around AI and automation was palpable. In the front row, I watched as a product owner enthusiastically showcased new technology that promised to digest 300-page documents in seconds, delivering neat summaries of key findings. To my left, a conveyancer remarked wryly, “Reading through […]
How law firms are using AI to enhance client services
An interview with Aimee Seaton, Customer Success Team Manager at Access Legal. Traditionally viewed as resistant to rapid change, the legal profession is undergoing a revolutionary transformation thanks to AI. For law firms, understanding and leveraging AI can open up new avenues for growth and efficiency in enhancing client services. To delve into this exciting […]
TikTok or TikNot? Should law firms invest in social media?
Newly released research suggests law firms are spending around a quarter of their marketing on social media advertising, despite nearly one in four partners dismissing it as a ‘waste of time.’ “TikTok or TikNot? Law firms in the social media age” is the 10th year legal marketing collective First4Lawyers have carried out its research into […]
Reassessing Client Account Interest: Navigating Regulatory Changes for Financial Stability
Handling client money is a core responsibility for law firms, with an associated obligation to pay a fair sum of interest to clients. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires firms to account to clients for interest earned on funds held on their behalf, in line with the principle of fairness outlined in the SRA Accounts […]
Market busier than this time last year with more completions on the way – Rightmove
The number of sales being agreed is still 26% ahead of the quieter market at this time in 2023 with the number of new seller coming to market 6% ahead of the same period a year ago. The figures have been released by Rightmove in their latest House Price Index and show ‘some early signs […]
Agents still failing to provide material and up front information
Recently conducted research has concluded estate agents continue to fail to provide material and up front information for would-be home buyers, falling foul of consumer protection regulations. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 superseded the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 in 2013, effectively requiring estate agents to provide ‘material information’ for the benefit of […]
Property market still on the up says RICS
Buyer demand remains broadly stable and a slight increase in positive sentiment around agreed sales is the story of the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) monthly residential market report. The RICS Residential Market Survey is a monthly sentiment survey of Chartered Surveyors who operate in the residential sales and lettings markets providing a […]
LMS – Pilot Update Webinar
Since the launch of a first-of-its-kind pilot in September, LMS has been working closely with Moverly, TM Group, Connells, Peter Alan and multiple law firms to showcase the benefits of cross-industry collaboration to create greater efficiencies and enhance transparency for all key stakeholders. Join our webinar hosted by Commercial Director, Travis Scholes and Chief Technology […]
What is Horizontal Digital Integration: And why is it relevant to conveyancers?
In the complex world of home buying and selling, where multiple stakeholders work together—from lenders to conveyancers, surveyors, and estate agents—a new digital transformation approach is emerging: Horizontal Digital Integration (HDI). Developed as a strategic methodology, HDI isn’t a single technology or platform. Instead, it serves as a framework for building a connected ecosystem where […]
Housing pipeline tops £113bn with market set for 1.1m transactions in 2024 – Zoopla
306,000 homes are currently working their way through the buying process to completion; and increase of 62,250 (26%) on the same time last year leading to predictions of a “bumper” final quarter for 2024 and into 2025. The latest House Price Index from Zoopla paints a hugely positive picture of the market with the largest […]
“Contrived” MDR claim leaves £80,000 SDLT bill
A ‘contrived’ attempt to claim Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) on a property has left the owner’s with an £80,000 tax bill after a first tier tribunal (FTT) ruled MDR did not apply. The property in question, a six-bedroom home in Upper Basildon, Berkshire, was transacted in August 2020. The tribunal was told the solicitors for […]
Help Your Clients Better Navigate Brownfield Land: Brownfield Passports and More
Redeveloping brownfield sites in England and Wales can be hugely beneficial for both community and industry. The question is, how do you help your firm’s clients take well-informed advantage of these opportunities in their area? This article, produced by On Point Data partners, Groundsure, will unpack the government’s proposed ‘Brownfield Passports’ scheme and provide solutions […]
“Spurious” SDLT claims under the microscope
The Law Society of England and Wales says it is being contacted by conveyancers concerned by ‘spurious’ claims and agents ‘pushing boundaries’ when it comes to stamp duty land tax (SDLT) claims and repayment. It says purchasers and conveyancers are being contacted by organisations with ‘little or no expertise in the tax and pay little […]
