According to data from the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) monthly gross remortgage lending fell by £404m in December to £2.7bn. This represents a fall of 13.0% from November reversing a strong September and October.
The HMRC have released their latest set of data relating to the number and aggregate value of property transactions in the UK. There were 932,000 completed transactions of a value above £40,000 last year, up
Law Firm Services Limited has announced they will be hosting the second annual Conveyancing Awards. The awards for 2013 are now open and all firms involved in residential conveyancing are invited to enter. The 2012
The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has raised concerns over the mechanism and risk to conveyancers, ahead of the launch of the Government’s Green Deal on Monday. Chairman of the RPSA, Alan Milstein, said: “The
Sarah Hill Wheeler joins the conversation about Richard Susskind’s new book. Isn’t this just another book about lawyers, written by an Ivory Tower academic? No. True, Professor Richard Susskind is an academic. Adviser to the
At yesterday’s Prime Ministers Question Time, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall and former Shadow Minister for the Environment, Housing, Arts and Heritage, Dan Rogerson asked the Prime Minister a question relating to mortgages. He
The SRA has launched a comprehensive two-year review of solicitors’ compensation arrangements. The review will inform future policy decisions. Currently all firms who hold client money contribute to the Compensation Fund. The purpose of the
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) has announced that it will be introducing a new advanced apprenticeship in legal services. The Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in LegaI will hopefully provide a springboard to qualification
Staying on lender panels seems to be getting harder. Andersons Solicitors in Croydon have been removed from lenders panels within days of BAILI publishing the court report of their application for judicial review against the
The SRA has published an update on the approval of compliance officers prior to an announcement to its Board today on the nominations process for COLPs and COFAs. So far 98.5% (9744) of the firms
The latest version of the handbook (version 6) will allow solicitors to refer clients needing financial advice to any financial adviser. Previously, solicitors were only been allowed to refer to financial advisers deemed "independent" by
The OFT commissioned report into Regulatory Restrictions in the Legal Profession by Europe Economics was released last week. What will it mean for conveyancers? The report follows on from the 2001 OFT report into competition
The law currently enshrined in The Party Walls etc Act 1996 has evolved over a period of centuries. As I found to my disappointment when preparing to talk to The Pyramus & Thisbe Club (www.partywalls.org.uk/)
The Environment Agency has announced a second consultation has begun into shale gas exploration at three sites in Lancashire. They propose that strict conditions are set out in the permits to ensure local communities and
BBC news has reported that two men from London have been sent to jail after being found guilty of defrauding Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Scotland £61m. Achilleas Kallakis and Alexander Williams, both 44,
Following the release of the OFT report on the regulation of legal services the Legal Services Board has said there is a danger of regulation not keeping up with the market. They said the report
Changes to various aspects of complaints handling from the Legal Ombudsman are set to take effect from 1 February. The changes include increasing the Ombudsman’s financial limits from £30,000 to £50,000, an increase in time
The Law Society, the Legal Services Board and the Ministry of Justice have published the results of a research project into the supply of legal services by solicitors’ firms. The report is entitled “A time
Fasttrac Solicitors has announced that it has been granted ABS status by the Solicitors Regulatory authority. ABS status allows law firms to appoint non-lawyers as managers and directors and for there to be external investment
The green light to resume fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, could prompt a ‘tremor’ of legal disputes, a leading South West lawyer has claimed. Battens Chairman David Stephens said opponents of the process were likely to
According to the latest Housing Market Sentiment Survey from Zoopla homeowners are more confident in the market than they were this time last year. 65% of home owners think house prices will rise over the
The RICS December 2012 Housing Market Survey shows prices held broadly stable throughout December. In positive signs for the market, buyer interest has been on the increase translating to a small increase in transaction levels.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has detailed a two-year review of the SRA Compensation Fund. The Compensation Fund is in place to replace money that a client has entrusted to a solicitor in his or
According to detailed analysis of the mortgage market, 2012 was the best year for high loan-to value lending since 2007, with an increase in lending to first-time buyers of 11%. The Mortgage Monitor from e.surv
Morton solicitors a member of the Bold Legal Group have gone public with their disappointment about being removed from the ING panel apparently, without notification and due to reasons beyond their control and which they
The Law Society and Land Registry have today published a joint Practice Note in relation to joint property ownership. A new Land Registry form (Form JO) will provide an effective way for conveyancers to record
Under the Governments Green Deal home owners and tenants are able to borrow money in order to make environmental improvements to their properties. The measures must pay for themselves in the economic lifetime of the
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has completed its first year of authorising and regulating alternative business structures (ABS). 387 firms have started the application process since 3 January, 2012. 74 licenses have been granted so
The Building Societies Association has announced that Adrian Coles, Director-General is stepping down from his post later this year after 20 years in post. Commenting on the decision Mr Coles said: "I have enjoyed, and
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) has announced it has appointed a third inspector responsible for ensuring compliance with the Search Code. Dave Penney joins the team following a stint at search firm SearchFlow, where
An increase in value of £57 billion in 2012 saw the total value of all British homes of ï¿¡5.963 trillion at the end of December. According to the data from property website Zoopla.co.uk this represents
Back in December we reported that the Legal Services Board’s thematic review had called into question the issue of holding client money. Last week the Financial Services Authority gave the go-ahead for a scheme that