Business chiefs call for SDLT refunds on energy-efficient homes
Business leaders have suggested that homeowners who make their property more environmentally friendly within two years of purchasing their house should have their Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) refunded or adjusted based on the energy efficiency of their home. In a letter to Kwasi Kwarteng prior to the Business Secretary’s energy security strategy announcement this […]
The LeO reacts to the substantial backlog of complaints and unacceptable wait periods
The Legal Ombudsman is an informal alternative to UK Courts and is responsible for investigating complaints between consumers and legal service providers, such as solicitors and barristers. This independent body has been appointed by the Office for Legal Complaints in England and Wales to resolve lawyer complaints fairly and effectively, as well as to improve […]
Speeding up front-end conveyancing information
Timely delivery of front-end information is of paramount importance in ensuring the conveyancing process works smoothly. Owen Davies, Chair of DWSN and Searches Business Development Manager at Severn Trent Services, offers his thoughts on the issues around speeding up information, specifically searches: “There are many challenges in compiling the information needed for homebuyers in the […]
We can’t keep paying lip-service to change in the sector
When it comes to the process of conveyancing, I’ve written before that the industry is not always singing from the same hymn sheet, and that presents a problem. While we might like to think we can all see the value, for example, in the provision of upfront information, greater transparency, a push towards certainty, etc, […]
Five ways legal professionals can look after their mental health, so they can in turn spot vulnerable clients
Our lives have been under a great deal of pressure over the last few years. With dealing with the impact of Covid at home and within our workplaces, to inflationary pressures and severe energy costs, to seeing the devastation of the Ukrainian crisis, it’s fair to say that our resilience levels have been well and […]
Construction delays and price increases: cooperative communication likely to be the “most sensible solution”
With the UK construction industry in the middle of a materials procurement and shortage crisis, parties should make certain the terms of a contract are drafted carefully to ensure the transfer of risk in price increases and delay reflects their requirements. Mark Christie, a Senior Associate at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, explains. The […]
Stamp duty now up to 881% higher thanks to holiday
Research by GetAgent.co.uk reveals that since the pandemic-inspired SDLT holiday came to an end, the amount of stamp duty the average homebuyer in England is now required to pay is 84% higher than it was before the tax break was introduced – although some areas have seen this cost increase by as much as 881%. […]
Government’s intent to legislate on identity & legal sector response
The sad events in Ukraine have forced the government and the property industry to pay even more attention to where client money comes from and who their client is. This has had serious implications for the whole industry, not just for those exposed to foreign property transactions. Events in Ukraine forced the government to push […]
Have your say on how the ICO operates
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is seeking the views of stakeholders and the public on how it regulates the laws it monitors and enforces. With the consultation closing this Thursday, the ICO is seeking feedback on its: Regulatory Action Policy Statutory Guidance on our Regulatory Action; and Statutory Guidance on our PECR Powers. Taken together, […]
Are replacement HIPs on the way?
Are replacement Home Information Packs (HIPs) on the way? Not quite – but more upfront information is coming I am currently creating a directory of law firms (Bold Legal Move) that will take instructions from a property seller/estate agent when a property is first marketed. Ideally, the firms will then proceed with ID and anti-money […]
More upfront information is needed now, to prevent devastating fall-throughs
A firm specialising in the provision of upfront information has said that, while the first changes to upfront information are happening, it is not until full material disclosure that we are likely to see any impact on lowering fall-throughs. Gazeal argues it is still many months away and, in the meantime, sales are continuing to […]
Government announces further changes to Online Safety Bill
The government announced on Thursday its amendments to the Online Safety Bill, which include tougher and quicker criminal sanctions for tech bosses and new criminal offences for falsifying and destroying data. The Bill aims to tackle a range of harmful online content in an effort to bring internet users a “safer online environment”. The government […]
Law Society welcomes royal assent of Economic Crime Act
News that the Economic Crime Act has received Royal Assent has been welcomed by the Law Society of England and Wales. In a recently issued press release the Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce commented: “The Economic Crime Act will help the government uncover potential criminal activity in the UK and we welcome the amendments […]
More upfront information needed for commonholds – Conveyancing Association
The Conveyancing Association (CA) – the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry – has issued its formal response to the Government consultation entitled, “Reforming the leasehold and commonhold systems in England & Wales”. The CA has called for more upfront information when purchasing a commonhold through the development of a CPE1 form to be […]
Britain set for housebuilding boom
Lee Martin, Head of UK for property development optimisation platform Unlatch, has suggested that the housebuilding sector is already showing signs that it is set to rebound from a decline in pandemic output. The housebuilding sector was hit hard by Covid-19 following an initial industry lockdown, and a return to the workplace was made all […]
Calls for Trustpilot to publish data on fake reviews
The UK’s largest property review website, allAgents.co.uk, has called for Trustpilot to publish the split of fake reviews removed between paying and free listing customers after they highlight fake reviews on estate agent comparison website getagent’s profile. Getagent.co.uk, a website that aggregates scraped estate agent data and reviews from online sources in order to give what […]
Digital property logbooks: levelling up to higher industry standards
Like it or not, conveyancers aren’t the first in the queue when sellers eventually get round to moving. On average once every 23 years or so home movers gird their loins and through gritted teeth call estate agents for the dreaded valuation. As the first agent pulls up outside it becomes apparent that things have […]
Upcoming changes to planning policy will hurt market for second homes in Wales
Regulating second home ownership in Wales through changes to planning policy will add complexity to the buying and selling process, meaning potential delays and costs for sellers and agents, according to Propertymark, the professional body for the property sector. The Welsh Government is considering new planning legislation and policy as part of its “three-pronged approach” […]
Rise in transactions predicted despite rates rise… for now
The Bank of England has released its monthly data on total mortgage approvals for house purchase, showing 73,922 approvals during the month of January. This is the fourth consecutive month in which approvals have increased, and the third-best January performance in the last 10 years. The amount borrowed by consumers was also up from December, […]
Some may struggle to adapt to upfront information changes, warns top property lawyer
While the upcoming major changes in upfront information are “long overdue” and can be traced back to objectives nearly 15 years old, the proposed developments are far from perfect – there are questions about enforcement and efficacy, and some may “struggle to adapt”, according to a top property lawyer from Irwin Mitchell. National Trading Standards […]