It is estimated that May 2013 saw the highest level of gross mortgage lending since October 2008. The latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders estimate that total gross mortgage lending in May increased
The latest HMRC Property Transaction Statistics show that the seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of residential property transactions increased by 6% between April 2013 and May 2013 to 83,740 residential transactions. This represents an
The Land Registry has made enhancements to their electronic Document Registration Service (e-DRS). Business customers who are signed up to e-DRS can now submit electronic applications that contain a plan including: Deeds of Grant, Agreed
The Law Society of Scotland has launched a consultation with solicitors, lenders and consumer interest groups on proposals to change its rules on conflict of interest in property transactions. At the moment a single solicitor
Around 1,200 firms are affected by the suspension of unrated Latvian professional indemnity insurance firm Balva. Yesterday, the Latvian regulator (FKTK) decided to withdraw all the operating licences issued to Balva. The news follows several
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) have both announced new Presidents. Jan HÓ±tch from Arnolds Keys LLP has been appointed President of the NAEA while Susan
The government have updated their guidance on the issue of The Party Wall Act 1996. The Party Wall etc Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary
20% of first time home buyers say Government schemes like Help to Buy will help them get onto the property ladder. The BSA’s quarterly Property Tracker report revealed that raising a deposit remains the single
The SRA said last week that firms may be running the risk of exposure to money laundering by thinking “it won’t happen to us”. Laura Holloway, Risk Analyst at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), spoke
The SRA has on 14 June published a scam alert over “Chameleon Solicitors” who are claiming to represent sellers on a property transaction in the West Midlands. “Chameleon Solicitors” are advertised on a variety of
Twitter is used by 10 million people in the UK. 67% of them are following a brand. Sometimes conveyancing clients can be wonderful and say positive things. Aston Bond will be proud of the
One of the UK’s leading conveyancing firms will host a recruitment evening on June 26th in Daventry in a bid to find property lawyers, case managers and graduates seeking a career in conveyancing. Ashley King,
A consumer panel has called for the merging of professional indemnity insurance and compensation to be actively explored. The Legal Services Consumer Panel has published a report looking at whether the legal regulators financial protection
At the CML Scotland Annual Conference last week CML director general Paul Smee highlighted concerns about the Law Society of Scotland’s plans to introduce separate representation. Mr. Smee said: "My concerns were redoubled yesterday when
A 5% increase in gross mortgage lending in April was helped by a 10% increase in remortgage activity. According to new data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders a total of £3.4 billion was
House purchase lending hit a sixteen month high in May thanks to an increase in high LTV lending. The latest Mortgage Monitor from e.surv, the UK’s largest chartered surveyor, and part of LSL Property Services
In addition to hundreds of firms already under investigation, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be investigating a further 205 firms that appear to be operating without compliance officers. The discovery of additional firms is
The tough times seem to keep coming for the Co-operative Bank. The Times has reported that the embattled bank is looking for buyers for their mortgage arm, Western Mortgage Services, which has £11bn in loans
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2012/13. The report covers the third full year of the post Legal Services Act 2007 regulatory regime and describes how
After lack of demand for the product, Virgin Money has pulled out of the self-build mortgage sector. A spokesperson said: “There was a limited demand for the product so we decided to withdraw it. It
QualitySolicitors Martin Tolhurst has signed up to the first ever set of customer service commitments for conveyancing. The Pledges, which go further than existing regulation and accreditation schemes, were launched by the Conveyancing Association (CA)
A four day hearing is underway at the Court of Appeal to hear appeals seeking to quash the Government’s strategy for a new high speed railway line from London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Objectors estimate
The level of conveyancing work carried out in Britain has risen 15% over the last 12 months according to research from property search provider SearchFlow. 59% of firms saw work increasing over the last year
A conference hosted by ConveyCentric will look at fraud identification and panel management from a lender’s perspective. The conference will take place on the 11th July at 1.30pm at The Derbyshire Hotel, Derby. The conference is
The Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been asked to approve plans to fund the cost of interventions from the Compensation Fund. The SRA has estimated that the total cost of interventions in
The SRA has on 11 June issued a warning over an individual calling himself Jonathan Lingfield who is purporting to be Principal of Lingfield Law. The individual purporting to be Jonathan Lingfield from Lingfield Law
Broker Conveyancing, the broker-focused conveyancing distributor, has today (10th June 2013) reported a surge in new broker registrations using its online portal. The distributor says that the total number of registered broker users has doubled
In a statement issued today the CLC T backed the use of risk management tools as a way to minimise the risk that could face clients. The statement reads; "The CLC encourages the practices
The SRA held an event on the 5th June warning law firms not to wander from the path of compliance whilst economic times are tough. The warning from the Chief Executive of the SRA, Anthony
According to BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme the governments flagship Green Deal policy has seen less than 200 takers so far. The policy was launched in January to offer long-term loans for energy-saving
According to new research from Stonehaven, 45.1% of their customers in London and the South East are now using equity release to pay mortgage debt. The equity release provider found that nearly half their customers
Accord BTL are now offering their buy to let customers a significantly increased panel. Accord Buy to Let will now accept solicitor firms who are on Accord Mortgages’ residential Conveyancing Panel and accredited under the