Enviromental searches have long formed an important element of the search packs used by conveyancers and solicitors when acting on both residential and commercial property transactions. In 2001 the Law Society provided guidance on contaminated

A Connells Survey and Valuation ‘Housing Market Activity Report’ shows a monthly increase in mortgage activity in November, thanks to first time buyer demand. Valuations carried out during November increased by 3 per cent, when

The Society for Licensed Conveyancers represents licensed conveyancers in the same way that the Law Society represents solicitors.   Since the creation of the concept of licensed conveyancers consumers have faced a choice as to

Paul Hajek at Solicitors Marketing System says that email marketing for small law firms is a no brainer.  Paul lists the 5 reasons why email marketing is a no brainer and if you think about

Introduction This case raised an important yet common issue. If a purchaser failures to pay a deposit on time under a contract for the sale of land does that lead to a repudiatory breach of

Richard Collins, the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) Director of Policy and Standards, has been promoted to Executive Director.  Collins will now be responsible for Regulatory Policy, Standards, Strategy and Research and will sit on the

Last week we heard from a medium sized firm of solicitors conducting about 70 transactions per month that was removed from a large lenders panel and they had no idea why.  The letter told the

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) new Handbook and Code of Conduct came into effect on 6th October 2011 after being agreed in June.  This represents a big change in the way that law firms are

Searches UK are conducting a short survey into the conveyancing market, please spare a couple of minutes to complete the survey. Click here.

At last weeks CML Conference Phillip Oldcorn of First Title presented a summary of the findings of a report that First Title had commissioned from You Gov.  The comprehensive report surveyed nearly 2000 people who

The CML Future of Conveyancing Conference was held last Thursday at the old Prudential Assurance building in Holborn. The ornate distinctive red brick building dominates that part of Holborn as an impressive building of a

The number of strategic options for conveyancers continues to grow as Lawyers2you announce that they will be holding an Open Day on Friday 9th December 2011.  Not only do conveyancing firms have to think about

Licensing applications will soon be accepted by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for Alternative Business Structures (ABS), according to a recent announcement. An Order which designates the SRA as an ABS licensing authority, laid before

The Bank of England’s latest Financial Stability Report has looked at the issues surrounding official arrears figures and the fact that they are “being ‘significantly’ masked”.  The review by the Financial Services Authority, at the

The Co-operative Legal Services team has joined the throng of commentators on the challenges that the EU may present to the buy to let market by requiring lenders only to consider earned income when considering

Last week an estate agent pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that his business processes personal data. The Data Protection Act 1998 requires every organisation or person

In the Autumn statement last week we all know it was confirmed that the Stamp Duty Land Tax break for first time buyers would end next March. Conveyancers like Fidler and Pepper and others have

Islamic Bank of Britain, the first UK FSA approved Islamic bank, has recently entered the buy to let market with the launch of the Sharia compliant Buy to Let Purchase Plan (BTLPP). Sharia law prohibits

Howard -Jones v Tate [2011] EWCA Civ 1330 (24 November 2011) Introduction Solicitor and partner Mr Anis Waiz of Mohindra Maini LLP continues his critical review of current case law.  This is a very important

The Legal Services Board Consumer panel last week issued a report into legal voluntary quality schemes assessing 13 schemes including the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.  The CQS was launched in February to rebuild trust

On Tuesday the 22nd November I attended the Embracing the Future of Conveyancing conference set up by the Society of Licensed Conveyancers. Speakers and topics included: Jennifer Bourne, Legal and Financial Crime, CML, Mortgage Fraud:

This time of year seems to have become a relentless churn of awards, but amongst all the gloom and slowing of the market for winter its good to celebrate some conveyancing successes …. Optima Legal

myhomemove, one of the UK’s leading conveyancing providers, bagged the Innovator of the Year Award (non-lenders) at the 2012 Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards 2012. The award was in recognition of eWay, the latest innovation from

Chaudhary v Yavuz [2011] EWCA Civ 1314 (22 November 2011) Introduction The issue was whether an informal easement and not registered at the Land Registry could be effective against a purchaser of the land over

Solar panel providers will offer to Lease your roof space so that they can install the solar panels, for which they do not normally pay a rent.  Your Client can use as much of the

At the first, of what is expected to become an annual event in the legal calendar, the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), the trade body representing the conveyancing profession, yesterday unveiled its Lender’s Panel Proposition:

Separate representation was of course common years ago as lenders did not operate open Solicitor panels however increased competition in recent years meant that it was extremely common to act for the Borrower and the

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have today announced that they are to introduce a tax-payer backed 95 per cent mortgage in order to help “unstick” the housing market. The announcement is said to “make the

Napthan’s solicitors in the North West of England have reminded first time buyers looking to move home  that the current stamp duty ‘holiday’ is due to end early next year.   At present for properties

On November 21st, GroundSure will release GroundSure HIGHSPEED 2, a search report that clearly identifies whether a property is near the proposed route of HIGHSPEED 2 (HS2).  This new unique report searches properties within a

As media partner for the upcoming “shaping the future of conveyancing” conference hosted by the CML we were lucky enough to be able to ask Jennifer Bourne, Senior Policy Advisor some questions: Can you let