The Halifax House Price Index has been released this week, and shows that UK house price growth on an underlying basis increased for a second month in a row in May. House prices increase by
Leeds based law firm Blacks LLP is launching Blacks Connect, a conveyancing service dedicated to mortgage intermediaries, which it says will offer competitive income opportunities to brokers, reports Mortgage Introducer. Blacks is building on its
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has set the deadline for law firms to provide diversity data about every member of staff for the end of September reports the Law Gazette. The information gathered includes ethnicity,
The HSBC has retained its restricted panel of approved solicitors in Scotland, despite making concessions to firms in England and Wales, the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland reports. In January the bank
A YouGov survey commissioned by the Legal Services Consumer Panel shows signs that consumer power is starting to take a grip in the legal services market. More consumers are shopping around and demanding fixed-fee deals.
The Government’s bureaucracy-busting ‘Red Tape Challenge’ is to look at legal services in June. The SRA is welcoming the chance to look at further opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens that inhibit the running of successful
Cunnington Solicitors have been voted Winners in Negotiator Magazine and Property Drum Awards 2012 in the Business to Business Conveyancing and Legal Support Services category, as voted by estate agents. Justin White, Sales Director commented:
The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has today announced that Alan Milstein has been appointed the new Chairman, to lead its future plans for growth. Alan Milstein is a qualified surveyor and owner of CHIPS
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is planning to launch a consultation on the requirement for solicitors to refer their clients to an independent financial adviser for investment advice, Money Marketing reports. The SRA is meeting
My Home Move Ltd has reported a profit for the financial year to December 31 2011 marking a return to profit following 2010. The Directors’ report and financial statements announced a profit of £994,000, which
The Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme is growing as twelve of the largest commercial firms have been accredited. This marks a wave of large commercial firms undergoing the process for accreditation. The scheme has the
The Law Society today publishes its 2012 PII Buyers’ Guide, which provides detailed guidance to all solicitors in choosing brokers and insurers when renewing their professional indemnity insurance cover. This Guide will be invaluable to
The Nationwide House Price Index has been released today. It shows that the price of a typical house rose by 0.3% in May, with the average house price now £166,022. Prices are 0.7% lower
Research by the Office of National Statistics reveals that the number of people aged 20 to 34 years living with a parent or parents rose to nearly three million in 2011. This is an increase
Mortgage lending has remained static over the last six months, according to figures released by the Bank of England today. The Lending to Individuals statistical release shows that total lending to individuals increased in April
Gross mortgage lending by building societies and mutual lenders increased by 23% in April 2012 compared with the same month last year, figures released by the Building Societies Association today. In the first four months
Oyez launches the most comprehensive information security research survey for law firms As the security of confidential information moves to the fore and compliance with regulation becomes more complex, it’s important for the profession to
Winzest Consulting has today announced the launch of its regulatory compliance consulting services to legal service providers. It will be led by Victor Olowe who was formerly Chief Executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers
The CON29DW is an essential part of the conveyancing process, as the official drainage and water search and 2012 marks its 10th anniversary. The search provides potentially deal-breaking information on water and sewerage infrastructure for
Thomas Legal Group, a niche property firm in the Cotswolds and central London has entered the ‘Young Business of the Year’ category for the Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo 2012 Business Awards. The firm has grown
Cheltenham law firm Davis Gregory has become the latest firm to be accredited with Quality Conveyancing Scheme (CQS) membership by the Law Society. CQS is a mark of excellence, and provides a recognised quality standard
Figures released by the Land Registry today show that house prices fell by 0.3% in April, as the average house in England and Wales costs £160,417. This represents an annual fall of 1.0%. When
The Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided to make a number of changes to its Financial Protection Policy, as part of its annual review process. The Board met on Wednesday 16 May,
Fifteen solicitors have had sanctions imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for failing to pay insurance premiums while their firms were in the assigned risks pool, reports Legal Futures. Five principals have been suspended indefinitely
Hearthstone Investments, the specialist residential fund manager, has received FSA approval to launch the UK’s first regulated residential property fund. The TM Hearthstone UK Residential Property Fund is due to soft launch this summer.
A property law firm based in Oxfordshire has become the sixth alternative business structure to be licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Plainlaw is a firm which specialises in the areas of property, housing and
Calls by the Law Society for the SRA to extend the scheme that provides solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance post six-year run-off cover have been heard. The SRA Board approved the proposals made by the
The latest smartlegal whitepaper explores the cloud computing revolution within legal services. It is available here. The paper is written by Bill Kirby, director of Professional Choice Consultancy, and looks at the issues surrounding
A former head of fraud and security for digital banking at Lloyds Banking Group has been charged in connection with a £2.5 million fraud. Andrew Penhale, from the Crown Prosecution Services’ central fraud group,
The Hometrack monthly national house price survey has been released today, and shows a national price rise of 0.2% over the last month. This increase has been pushed up by the performance of London. London
The Chief Ombudsman Adam Sampson has used his blog to look at the volume of complaints seen by the Legal Ombudsman. He looked in particular at two statistics which he says are on the face
Brokers were warned yesterday at the Manchester Mortgage Business Expo that there is a risk that lenders will sue for losses caused by fraud, reports Mortgage Introducer. John Malone, executive chairman of PMS said: