Solicitors firm fined over £4k by SRA for AML failings
Roche Legal Limited, a recognised body, authorised and regulated by the SRA has agreed to pay a financial penalty in the sum of £4,698 for for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. The SRA carried out an investigation into the firm following an inspection by our AML Proactive Supervision team. Their inspection identified areas […]
Commonhold to be default tenure for new flats under plans to bring an end to ‘feudal’ leasehold
Following promises to reform the ‘feudal’ tenure system the Government have unveiled plans to introduce commonhold as the default tenure for new flats in a move that could ultimately see leasehold phased out over time. The white paper, launched this week, proposes a new code of practice which will set our how costs would be […]
Solicitors firm fined over £31k by SRA for AML failings
Nexus Solicitors Limited, a Licensed Body, authorised and regulated by the SRA has agreed to pay a financial penalty in the sum of £31,217 for for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. Nexus Solicitors Limited will pay the costs of the investigation of £600, under Rule 10.1 and Schedule 1 of the SRA Regulatory […]
Strike ballot at MHCLG over office closures
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union says it is balloting members over potential strike action at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in a stand off with the government over office closures, rigid attendance policies, and changes to recruitment practices. More than 1,100 PCS union members work in MHCLG offices, the […]
HM Land Registry cases to be down to less than 12 months by the end of March
HM Land Registry (HMLR) aims to have all outstanding case down to less than 12 months by the end of its financial year in March 2025 says a senior leader at the organisation. Speaking on the Conveyancing Matters YouTube chat, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Strategy at HM Land Registry (HMLR) Mike […]
LSB consults on strategic priorities for 2025/26 amid budget concerns
The Legal Services Board (LSB) is consulting on the content of its business plan and budget for 2025/26, highlighting five key priorities for the super-regulator. In its final board meeting on 2024 it reaffirmed its commitment to the Reshaping Legal Services strategy, aimed at achieving fairer outcomes, stronger confidence, and better services across the legal […]
Lenders withdraw mortgage offers after EWS1 certificate furore
Major lenders are withdrawing mortgage offers for properties with fire safety certificates issued by a fire engineering company amid concerns about the ‘accuracy and vigour’ of the work. Although there is no formal register of EWS1 certificates analysis by the Building Safety Register has found just under half (410) EWS1 certificates were signed off between […]
Risk series launches for law firm managers and compliance professionals
A new training series aimed at risk managers, compliance officers and senior leaders in law firms has been launched by Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Conveyancer. It will be hosted as part of the extensive training available through Today’s Training; which provide ongoing competence/CPD training for practitioners through partnerships with industry experts. The Today’s […]
Google taken to task over fake reviews
Google has been taken to task by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) over the ability of consumers to trust in its reviews. In response the search giant has committed to introducing enhanced processes to tackle fake and misleading reviews. It has also agreed it will enforce sanctions on organisations who attempt to benefit from […]
Firm fined £25k for breaches of AML regulations
Reading-based law firm Harrison Thames Valley Solicitors LLP has been fined £25,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following ‘serious breaches’ of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs 2017). The fine came following an SRA investigation which found the firm did not appropriate measures to […]
Complete and Correct Applications to HMLR – CLC Webinars
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) have announced a series of webinars to be hosted in conjunction with HMLR to tackle what it describes as the ‘variable quality of title registration applications across the regulated community.’ The CLC’s 2024 Risk Agenda identified requisitions as an area of focus for the regulator in 2025 and has […]
‘Ask Adam’ – the new Today’s Conveyancer collaboration that gets your Land Registry Questions answered
‘Ask Adam’ is a new spin off in Today’s Conveyancer and allows readers to ask any questions they want to the Land Registry. This month’s question has already been answered, but we will be asking readers on social media, who can choose to remain anonymous – where it will be answered in a brand new […]
SRA shuts down Liverpool firm over alleged dishonesty concerns
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has intervened in the operations of Liverpool-based GW Law Limited amid allegations of misconduct and dishonesty by its director. The regulatory body suspended Christopher Williams, the firm’s director, citing concerns over dishonesty and alleged breaches of accounts rules and the professional code of conduct. As part of the intervention, North […]
Shared Ownership Code set for launch after national consultation draws responses from 1,700 consumers
A new Shared Ownership Code aimed at driving better experiences for shared owners and best practice across the industry is set for launch after a nationwide consultation returned broad support for the initiative. The launch of the Shared Ownership Code follows a consultation process that included a consumer survey of more than 1,700 current and […]
Land registration: Practice guides
Adverse possession of registered land (PG4) Page summary: Guidance about adverse possession of registered land. Aimed at conveyancers (practice guide 4). Change made: A new third paragraph has been added to section 7 to provide information about HM Land Registry’s practice where the box regarding counter notice in panel 6 of form NAP has not […]
Data standards body unveils new search quality mark
The Conveyancing Information Executive (CIE), the search data standards body set up in 2020, has announced a revamp of it’s branding and the launch of a new quality mark members will display on search reports. The CIE was founded by Groundsure, Landmark Legal, SearchFlow and Geodesys, with the ambition to “raise data quality and content […]
Practice Guide Update: Charitable incorporated organisations
Charitable incorporated organisations (PG14a) Page summary: Transactions involving charitable incorporated organisations, including their dissolution (practice guide 14A). Change made: The guide has been amended to reflect how applications should be made using our digital systems. Time updated: 6:00am, 18 November 2024
Law Society hits back at client money consultation
The Law Society of England and Wales has hit back at the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s consultation on the future of law firms holding client. ‘Client money in legal services – safeguarding consumers and providing redress’ was published on Thursday 14th November 2024 to address what the SRA described a sharp rise in the ‘number and […]
Practice guide update: PG73, PG52, PG14 and PH11
Statements of truth (PG73) Page summary: Information about the use of statements of truth in support of applications to HM Land Registry (practice guide 73). Change made: Section 1 has been amended as we no longer accept applications for first registration based entirely on copy deeds and documents. Time updated: 6:00am, 11 November 2024 Easements […]
LSB appoints barrister to the Office for Legal Complaints
The Legal Services Board (LSB) announces the appointment of barrister Elaine Banton as a non-lay member of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The LSB oversees the OLC, the board of the Legal Ombudsman, making appointments to its board of both lay and non-lay members. Non-lay members are legally qualified. As a barrister, Elaine acts […]
