Housing Minister Grant Shapps has unveiled details of how thousands of new affordable homes will be built using the proceeds from the Government’s Right to Buy Scheme. Shapps stated that local authorities would have more

In-Deed was admitted to the alternative investment market nearly 12 months ago with the intention of offering good quality conveyancing at a price that was clear for the consumer to understand and which left conveyancers

St Giles the professional indemnity insurance broker has recently set out reasons why COLPS needs technology to help them comply with the regulatory burden they face. In 2011 the SRA moved away from prescribed rules

Legal Futures has reported that a Birmingham law firm is considering whether to take legal action against the SRA after being tricked by a bogus practice as part of a mortgage fraud.   Davisons claims that

The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service CIFAS has released Staff Fraudscape.  This is a 40 page report which analyses the insider frauds.  It also looks at the reasons behind the 14.5% increase in such frauds which

The Building Societies Association (BSA) have elected David Webster, Chief Executive of the Hanley Economic Building Society, as the new Chairman for 2012/13.  Webster replaces Peter Giffiths, Chief Executive of the Principality Building Society, who

A three year housing slump has not dampened the long term home-owning aspirations of buyers across the UK, according to Property Talk Live. AA Home Emergency Response service has revealed that research carried out amongst

Wilsthire based law firm, Trethowans Solicitors, have recently launched their new look website and a new, sharper brand identity. Simon Rhodes, Managing Partner, commented: “We have completely redesigned our website to utilise the latest technology

Following the success of its ‘Prime’ Legal Pack, Haybrook, a large independent estate agency in South Yorkshire, are to launch an upgrade option call ‘Prime Protected’, according to Property4Media. Haybrook launched Prime last summer to

Quick Move Now has reported that the rate of house sales falling through in April was 30.32%, with one in three sales failing to reach completion.  The main reason for this high rate was issues

Searches UK, a leading provider of searches to UK conveyancing practitioners, have become the only search company in the country to have successfully joined Checkaprofessional.com. Checkaprofessional.com is a new venture from Checkatrade, which was founded

Following the end of the stamp duty holiday in March, the LSL/Academetrics House Price Index shows a drop in the number of transactions by 18%, although prices hold steady with a 0.2% drop. Richard Sexton,

The CML has today released figures on repossessions and arrears over the first quarter of 2012.  The number of repossessions was 9,600.  This is the same as recorded in the first quarter of 2011, and

CML figures released this week show that buy-to-let lending has fallen by 5% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to quarter 4 of 2011.  New buy-to-let lending totalled £3.7 billion, over 32,300 loans.  This

Pete Redfern, chief executive of housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey, has suggested that the NewBuy scheme could be less effective than hoped because the interest rates on eligible loans are too high.   The NewBuy scheme

The Land Registry on 4 May launched a consultation over proposals to change Land Charges legislation.  This will enable them to provide a wider range of online services, and would lead to the closure of

The Co-operative has announced that it is no longer offering interest-only mortgages.  This includes new mortgages and remortgages.   Only those existing borrowers moving home and not borrowing extra will be able to stay on

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has claimed that new houses in Yorkshire and the Humber are the smallest in the UK. RIBA research shows that the average three-bedroom home built in Yorkshire and

The latest Housing Market Activity Report by Connells Survey & Valuation saw a drop in activity in the valuations market in April.   The total number of residential valuations conducted during April fell by 32%

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said that Whitehall departments are on target to exceed the ambition of the Prime Minister to release previously-used public land for building new homes.   New figures released this week

The RICS Housing Market Survey for April was released this week.  Activity levels flattened and prices expectations declined as the optimistic outlook from Quarter 1 started to fade.   19% more Chartered Surveyors reported price

The UK’s leading software company VTUK has announced that online ordering platform ETSOS is to be integrated into one stop solution software package for Estate Agents, Aquarius. The integration will enable estate agents to order

Following a rise in activity in the housing market, JMW Solicitors LLP have taken on a further conveyancing specialist to the residential conveyancing department. Michael Purvis has joined the residential conveyancing team as an Associate.

Propertytalk Live has reported that the new benefit cap may lead to thousands losing their homes.  The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has started writing to more than 90,000 adults within 67,000 households who

A new search has shown to deliver greater insight and some real financial benefit to property buyers.  DevAssist searches map and evaluate the future development risks and opportunities in a 75 metre radius of the

Following 7 alerts since the 8th February regarding bogus solicitors firms the Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a warning notice that is of particular relevance to all conveyancers entitled “Bogus law firms and identity theft”. 

Stephensons Solicitors with offices across the North West has developed and launched a service to help home buyers mitigate the costs associated with gazumping.  Stephensons are not only a CQS firm, they are also member

The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced that it will be recognising the Search Code and will be urging its members to only accept and commission searches from Code compliant subscribers, with immediate effect.

Last week Land Registry produced the figures for those organisations that hold accounts with it showing their activity for March 2012.  Information relating to applications for transfers for value (i.e. an approximation of purchase activity)

Repossessed property, it’s almost like a dirty word when your new client tells you that they intend to purchase one.  The transactions are often fraught with difficulties and time constraints and more time is spent

Potential buyers are being urged to use caution when viewing properties that have solar panels fitted, according to RICS.  Mortgage applications could be declined where the property’s roof space has been leased to a solar

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has imposed sanctions on 15 solicitors as a result of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) drive to enforce payment of insurance premiums, with hearings awaited for a further 15. The