New research from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks released this month shows that people in the UK remain focused on their finances, with more than one in ten planning to remortgage, pay-off or make over-payments on

Only two weeks remain before voting closes for the LFS Conveyancing Awards 2012 prize for Estate Agents Conveyancer of the Year.  The prize will be awarded to the firm voted for by Estate Agent readers

Cherry Tree Investments Ltd v Landmain Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 736 (31 May 2012)  Introduction Solicitor Mr Anis Waiz continues his critical review of recent case law. Here we look at a very important case

The LSL Property Services/Academetrics House Price Index for May has been released today.  It shows that house prices in England and Wales rose on an annual basis for the first time in 13 months in

The Legal Service Consumer Panel has issued its response to the Legal Ombudsman Consultation on its scheme rules and case fee structure.   The Panel believes that the package of proposals being consulted on would

Estate agency group Spicerhaart is to invest over £5 million as part of a ‘service revolution’ within the haart branch network, reports MyIntroducer.com. The haart estate agency branch network is made up of over 120

Principality Building Society scooped the overall five star award for best mortgage lender and packager in a national survey of UK mortgage providers. Wales’ biggest building society emerged top in its category in the FT

As excellent customer service becomes ever more important in the conveyancing process as a differentiating factor between firms, it is important that firms look for opportunities to gain client loyalty.  There are some inexpensive ways

A report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation this week warns of an escalating housing crisis, which will lock over one million young people out of home ownership by 2020.  The report, ‘Housing Options and

Hamilton Bradshaw, the Private Equity company owned by former Dragon’s Den investor James Caan, has announced an agreement to invest capital in the Staffordshire based Knights Solicitors, subject to SRA approval.  This marks the first

As the deadline of 31st July for the nominations to the SRA for both a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) draws closer, the legal software provider

Following extensive consultation and development, the CML has this week issued a new set of instructions for conveyancers acting for lenders under separate representation conveyancing transactions in England and Wales.   The new set of

A new CML research article shows that despite the economic and financial difficulties that have resulted from the credit crunch, 81% of British adults hope to be home-owners in ten years time, with 74% hoping

The mortgage market returned to growth in May following from the slowdown in April caused by the stamp duty exemption deadline, according to the latest Housing Market Activity Report by Connells Survey and Valuation.  

The Land Registry has achieved its best ever customer satisfaction results.  During the last three months of 2011/12 the customer satisfaction score for the Land Registry reached 99%, the highest in its history.  This brings

The Law Society is inviting legal professionals from across England and Wales to enter the Excellence Awards 2012. Now in their sixth year, the awards are firmly established as the leading awards for the profession

The latest RICS Housing Market Survey shows that house sales per surveyor across the UK are almost forty per cent lower than at the peak of the boom five years ago.  During May, the average

Bellway Plc, part of The Bellway Group, have issued an Interim Management Statement (IMS) for the period 1 February to 31 May 2012. The Group reports that the spring selling season demand has “remained resilient”.

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation over the replacement of Stamp Duty Land Tax.  The proposals would see it replaced with a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.  Finance Secretary John Swinney announced plans for

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have launched a fee free mortgage offer beginning today (11 June 2012), which they believe will be a boost for homeowners. The Banks are waiving arrangement fees for customers taking out

The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the proposals made by the Scottish Government, replacing Stamp Duty Land Tax with a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.  The Law Society will respond to the 12 week

The Legal Services Board has published its final report ‘Understanding consumer needs from legal information sources’.  The report was commissioned to look at the types of information consumers would like to help them address the

As it embraces one of the most significant years in its existence, the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced the appointment of two new members to its board.  With the official launch of its

Subscribers to Today’s Conveyancer are invited to take part in the Legal Marketing Debate 2012. LM Group value expert opinions on the benefits and pitfalls involved in marketing for law firms, and have set up

As thousands of communities have come together for sporting and jubilee events, a new survey reveals that the UK is becoming a more neighbourly nation.  The annual HSBC Neighbours Survey, which is published ahead of

Chelsea Building Society has been recognised at the Moneywise Mortgage Awards, winning Best Lender for Fixed Rates.  The Society was described as offering “consistency coupled with good service”.   Jemma Smith, Product Manager from Chelsea

The online conveyancing distributors Conveyancing Alliance Group today have launched a new website focused at brokers and their clients.  Broker Conveyancing follows from Conveyancing Alliance’s other broker-only products, which include ‘Convey99’. Broker Conveyancing offers a

Research conducted by Skipton Building Society reveals that almost half of Brits believe that the global economic crisis is forcing people to remain financial teenagers into their late twenties.  Home ownership was cited as the

Marks and Spencer has announced that it is to launch a bank this summer, which it says will bring the trusted Marks and Spencer brand values to banking and offer consumers more choice on the

The Law Gazette has reported on a warning by a former assistant US attorney that UK law firms must strengthen their online security in order to protect their clients from the threat of cyber crime.

The Legal Services Consumer Panel has urged the Legal Ombudsman to accept cases from ‘third parties’, those individuals who are not the lawyer’s client.   This is part of the Panel’s response to the Consultation

The Legal Ombudsman has released the first issue of its quarterly newsletter LeO News, which shares news, views and information. The newsletter contains a welcome from the Chair of the Board, Elizabeth France, who talks