Martin is a Senior Content Writer for Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills and Probate, Today’s Legal Cyber Risk and Today’s Family Lawyer
Having qualified as a teacher, Martin previously worked as a Secondary English Teacher that responsible for Head of Communications.
After recently returning to the North West from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, Martin has left teaching to start a career in writing and pursue his lifelong passion with the written word.
Simplify has selected LexisNexis Visualfiles as its group-wide software platform for case and legal process management. Having already run a successful pilot, Simplify will now complete a phased roll-out of the software platform. Visualfiles is
The UK construction sector enjoyed the largest monthly growth in November since January 2019. According to recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the 1.9% increase in construction activity in November was the single largest
The Government has reminded organisations about the requirement for obliged entities to report additional information discrepancies to Companies House. The Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) is now in full swing and all obliged entities must
A quarter of all housing sales last year in the English and Welsh property sector, were plagued by fall throughs prior to completion. According to figures obtained by Quick Move Now, 28.21% of all housing
The Law Commission has published a report setting out options for reducing the costs leaseholders have to pay during the enfranchisement process of extending their lease or buying the freehold title. The report suggested three
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has urged around 7,000 of its regulated firms to re-assess their processes now that the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) has come into force. Despite the short lead time between
First-time buyers (FTBs) made up the majority of the market, fewer EU nationals looked to purchase property in the UK and the majority of movers stayed within a five mile radius of their previous property
A leading specialist in leasehold enfranchisement has claimed current leasehold legislation is to blame for attributing to disputes and hostility between leaseholders and freeholders during the enfranchisement process. The current system, especially involving restrictive deadlines
The Government has pledged millions of pounds to help local councils crack down on criminal landlords and letting agents. Over 100 councils will share £4 million to put towards enforcement action against rogue landlords and
Is your law firm ready for the Fifth EU Money Laundering Directive (5MLD) which comes into force at the end of this week (Friday 10th January)? The regulations are an update on the Money Laundering
Stakeholders in the property sector perceive reservation agreements, the fifth anti-money laundering directive (5AMLD), Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) changes, technology and ground rents/leases/service charges as the main challenges to the sector this year. According to
First-time buyer (FTB) figures reached their highest levels since 2007 in 2019. According to data obtained from the Yorkshire Building Society (YBS), the 353,436 FTB homeowners in 2019 marginally exceeded the pre financial crash levels
The new decade will open with the Government offering increased help to support the growing issue of homelessness. Over £260 million has been promised to local authorities to boost homelessness services. The funding will enable
Despite calls for the Government to reconsider its decision to scrap Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, the Queen’s speech, following the general election, solidified the desire to push ahead with the contentious legislative change. Experts
The majority of millennials still believe the buy-to-let sector offers a worthwhile investment opportunity despite recent legislative changes. 83% of potential younger investors still feel that buying a second home is a wise investment, according
2019 was undoubtedly difficult for many stakeholders in the property sector. Construction started to decline, sellers were deterred from placing their properties on the market and property growth was stifled to less than 1%. However,
Whilst the majority are looking to polish off the last of the annual festive indulgences we are able to get away with at this time of year, many will be reflecting on 2019 before speculating
The final quarter of the year is statistically the busiest time for home completions. According to a 5-year analysis of Land Registry data, by Housesimple, and average of 241,113 transactions complete between October and December.
On the 18th December it was announced that Harcus Parker had begun legal proceedings on behalf of current and former Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley mortgage holders. The firm has previously acted in high-profile
Legal service professionals entered 2019 having adapted to price and service transparency regulatory change. It seemed as though the sector spent huge amounts of time and effort transforming digital communication methods in order to comply
The Queen’s speech was underwhelming for the housing sector but did reinforce the government’s intentions to help the leasehold sector. The Queen discussed a ‘comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold
Between August and October, the number of mortgages completed in the UK fell by 6.7%. 65,630 mortgages completed in the UK during October according to recent statistics from UK Finance. This figure was made up
The election is over, stage one of ‘get Brexit done’ is in sight as Boris Johnson attempts to pass the Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament before Christmas and experts feel a lot more optimistic about the
A freedom of information (FoI) request, made to UK local councils, has found a significantly higher proportion of vacant homes than estimates suggest. Up to September 2019, the UK had 617,527 empty buildings. Of this
Three estate agencies have been fined over £600,000 for illegal price fixing. The Berkshire based estate agencies were found guilty of fixing the minimum commission rates they charged their customers for over seven years. The
Despite myriad political and Brexit concerns reducing confidence in the property market this year, Help to Buy has continued to flourish. In the opening half of 2019, 25,275 transactions were completed using Help to Buy
Leasehold reform, rentcharges and improved digital delivery of conveyancing services have been placed high on the agenda for a leading trade body in 2020. The Conveyancing Association (CA) has highlighted four specific areas of
The UK construction sector continued its longest period of decline since 2013 as October output fell. Month-on-month construction output fell by 2.3% in October, the largest monthly fall since April 2018, according to recent data
Market activity was stagnant in the month of the election build up as buyers and sellers continued to adopt a cautious approach. New buyer enquiries decreased for the third consecutive month to a negative net
The majority has been secured and the UK is set to ‘get Brexit done,’ after three years of backbiting, bickering and in-party feuding. The Conservative Party ‘less is more’ approach to the election campaign has
Email communications could now be classed as a legally binding agreement following the conclusion of a landmark legal case this week. Land law now has a set precedent for what constitutes an official signature following
The Law Society are urging the legal sector to embrace modernity by adapting to a more ‘deregulated environment, stronger commercial pressures and increasing adoption of technology.’ Employment in the legal sector is predicted to fall