Rob Hailstone recounts an experience with a contented conveyancer, and learns that an earlier instruction can go a long way when it comes to keeping the professionals happy. A few days ago, I was
After more than half a century working in the world of conveyancing, last week has to rank among the most frantic and frankly, one of the strangest I can remember. On Tuesday morning, I was
The recent announcement that the Government is, once again looking into improving the home buying and selling process is particularly poignant for me, because as most of you know, I owned a Home Information Pack
Does Project 28 contain a Charter for faster, more certain property transactions, or will it be another well intended but ultimately partially successful attempt at improving the home buying and selling process? Having watched the
From obscurity to instant fame, is a rapid journey that most wannabe celebrities would die for. Who would have thought that within less than a week, Conveyancers and the four-letter abbreviation SDLT would be as
There are at least two dates in my life I’ll never forget: 1st August 2007, and 28th July 2007. The first marked the official launch of Home Information Packs (HIPs), a policy shift that had
In a profession built on precision, trust, and the clear relay of legal advice, an unsettling trend may be emerging, conveyancers making transaction related decisions without first advising and consulting with their clients. Time and
The recent Panorama investigation into the behaviour of some estate agents has reignited public concern about unethical practices in the property industry. While the revelations have shocked many, the uncomfortable truth is that such behaviour
In the challenging world of property chains, stress is a given, but all too often that stress crosses a line. Recent comments from property lawyers expose a darker side of the housing market: developers bullying
It’s a scenario that could affect any home: the freedom to adapt, extend, or improve it to suit your life. But a single clause in a decades-old covenant could forbid even the simplest extension or
Now that the dust is beginning to settle on the recent government claim that home buying and selling is to become quicker and cheaper and will provide more power to leaseholders, I thought I would
If Home Information Packs (HIPs) had not been scrapped we would not be in the confusing position we are now with the introduction of the new Material Information Guidance (MIG). The HIP, over the last
It was recently claimed that the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) was “re-engineering conveyancing by the back door” by introducing the full Material Information Guidance and we were warned that “non-regulated
Most solicitors and conveyancers are aware of the potential frauds and scams they and their clients can get caught up in if they are not constantly vigilant. Emails can be monitored and virtually duplicated in