New Shared Ownership Code ‘will protect consumers and set sector benchmarks’
A cross-sector initiative of housing groups, banks, building societies and other official bodies has launched an official code to standardise best practice and consumer protection for shared ownership in England. The Shared Ownership Code, released by the Shared Ownership Council, aims to ensure transparency, fairness and improved support for shared owners in the marketing, purchasing […]
Communication is key when dealing with delays, says Legal Ombudsman in new guidance
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has set out its expectations for service providers when dealing with third-party delays, which stress the importance of effective communication. The LeO says almost half of the complaints it receives are about communication and delays, with a ‘common feature’ being whether the delay could have been caused or influenced by a […]
‘Homes matter’ say founders of a new search company with charitable aims
A new property search platform has launched bringing together 20+ years’ experience; with an ambition to raise money for causes dedicated to supporting those experiencing homelessness. Tenet Property Searches has been founded by former Conveyancing Data Services search specialist Chris Dear, alongside Ben, with a vision to ‘redefine conveyancer-focused search solutions.’ The business says it […]
Home ownership aspiration sinks to a decade-long low, with buying process ‘a well-known joke’
The homebuying process, stamp duty rates and the leasehold system have all been cited as ‘major housing concerns’, according to new research by the HomeOwners Alliance. The organisation, which has been tracking UK housing concerns for the past 10 years, says issues that were significant in 2015 continue to plague the market in 2025. While […]
FCA boss says safer markets have removed access to many and urges lenders to ‘do more’
Emad Aladhal, the director of retail banking at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has said financial market safety may have come at the expense of creditworthy borrowers, and a balance is required to open up access to mortgages. In an address to key stakeholders from the lending community, Aladhal said the mortgage market had become […]
A record 73,000 consumers asked The Property Ombudsman for help last year
The Property Ombudsman received a record number of contacts in 2024, with more than 73,000 consumers seeking support with property-related issues – 27% more than the previous year. Although the majority of enquiries came from renters, the ombudsman said there has been a growing demand for the service from leaseholders and a high level of […]
RICS annual review ‘showcases a year of significant progress’
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released its 2024 Annual Review, which the organisation says ‘showcases a year of significant progress in modernising the profession, expanding membership, and leading on global sustainability standards’. In what it calls a landmark year, RICS membership in the UK surpassed 100,000 for the first time, with a […]
HMLR will share requisition data ‘to speed up processing’
HM Land Registry has said it will share data on the number of ‘avoidable requisitions’ within law firms, which it says will increase the quality and speed of service it offers. The organisation will also offer free training to ‘help law firms get applications right first time’. The data – available from the autumn – […]
PLA says AML regulations and punitive fines are suffocating conveyancers, as it launches campaign for reform
The Property Lawyers Alliance (PLA) says a ‘mountain’ of regulations and red tape are suffocating conveyancing and the ‘vast panoply’ of Anti Money Laundering (AML) guidance notes, laws, regulations and sanctions are ‘a serious impediment to the efficient working of the UK property market and a significant drag on the economy’. The PLA estimates AML […]
CPRE claims large developers are ‘hoarding’ planning permission for a million new homes
The countryside charity CPRE claims big housebuilders are maximising profits by hoarding planning permission for up to a million new homes while releasing poor-quality properties to market. In a briefing paper released this week, the charity has rejected government claims that planning committees are responsible for the slow delivery of new homes and says the […]
New property partner among recent hires at Mincoffs
North East law firm Mincoffs has appointed Ashleigh Warne as partner in a series of April promotions. Warne will work closely with partner and head of residential conveyancing Emma Liddle, where she will utilise her ‘vast experience’ of handling complex property cases. The Mincoffs residential conveyancing team has also been boosted with the appointment of […]
‘No relief’ from AML fines as SRA highlights £100,000 in penalties
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has said it will continue to ‘ratchet up the consequences’ of non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, as it released details of fines totalling almost £100,000 in the first two weeks of May. In a media briefing last week, the SRA’s chief executive Paul Philip acknowledged that non-compliance with AML rules ‘is […]
Chartered lawyer adds ‘another layer of confusion and complexity’ – Law Society hit back
The Law Society of England and Wales has hit back at the introduction of a ‘CILEX Chartered Paralegal’ as part of amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which provides formal recognition for CILEX paralegals. The Law Society has described the change as adding ‘another layer of confusion and complexity for consumers’ and fundamentally disagrees with the […]
Gold Investors in People accreditation for Sort Group
Sort Group, the national company that provides tech solutions for conveyancers, has been awarded the Gold Investors in People accreditation. The accreditation is an internationally recognised standard that reflects dedication to continuous improvement, employee engagement and developing a positive, high-performing workplace. The accolade places Sort Group, which includes Sort Legal and Sort Refer, in the […]
Formal recognition for paralegals under Royal Charter amendment
Paralegals will receive formal recognition under amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which bestows the title of CILEX Chartered Paralegal to professionals who can demonstrate they have worked in a legal role for over five years and show extensive legal knowledge and competence across key duties and behaviours. It provides career paralegals with a formal status […]
Strategic reshaping of senior team positions LawNet for future growth
National SME law firm networkLawNet has appointed Lee Woodger to the newly created role of head of community and communications, as part of a strategic realignment of senior roles. LawNet says Woodger’s appointment forms a key part of the network’s leadership transition, which will see current chief executive Chris Marston hand over to member engagement […]
National Property Transaction Network pilot reduced completion time by 35%
A pilot scheme for the National Property Transaction Network (NPTN), an open and secure digital platform developed by legal tech company LMS, achieved a 35% reduction in completion times and a 43% drop in cancellations. The network connects conveyancers, suppliers, agents and lenders throughout the property transaction process. The pilot tested how cross-industry collaboration and […]
Knights surpasses £200m revenue and strengthens South East presence with Birkett Long acquisition
Knights has announced the acquisition of Essex-based law firm Birkett Long, for an initial £10 million. The deal will bring around 90 lawyers and 10 financial advisers to Knights, who will join an existing team of 1,250 in 28 locations. The acquisition, which the firm says will increase revenues to more than £200 million, comes […]
Build strong communities to enhance wellbeing in legal practice
The legal sector is being encouraged to focus on mental health and wellbeing this month, with this week marking Wellbeing Week in Law, and Mental Health Awareness Week beginning on the 12th May. Awareness weeks offer a prompt to pause and reflect on the issue at hand, and when it comes to our health there’s […]
Geovation announces 20th cohort for its property tech accelerator programme
The Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry backed startup initiative Geovation has announced the 20th cohort for its accelerator programme, which is designed to support entrepreneurs bringing property technology solutions to market. Since it was established 15 years ago, Geovation has supported over 150 startups with a collective value of £300 million, 75% of which […]