FCA: lenders should support consumers through cost of living crisis
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is today writing to more than 3,500 lenders to remind them of the standards they should meet as consumers across the country are affected by the rising cost of living. With household bills expected to continue to rise into the autumn, it is important that firms act now to make sure borrowers […]
New website launched to help consumers find right lawyer for them
Evolve Technologies Limited, a consultancy specialising in supporting the Legal Community, has launched a new website to enable consumers to find the right lawyer for them. Search4legal is a website that provides guidance to consumers to better understand how to engage with Lawyers and how they can quickly and easily find a lawyer. All SRA-regulated […]
98% of consumers want more upfront information
New research by the Conveyancing Association has found that consumers are overwhelmingly in favour of more upfront information being provided during the conveyancing process. The study found 98% of consumers thought upfront information was a good idea. What’s more, 96% of respondents were property-owning sellers who are happy to pay more for information upfront. This […]
SRA gives key consumer protection another chance
Following consultation on the future of post six-year run-off cover, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that it will seek a further 12-month extension to the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) – to September 2023 – to enable detailed consideration of key points raised in feedback. The consultation, which ran from November 2021 to January […]
Law Society responds to LSB consultation on empowering consumers
The Law society has issued a response to the Legal Services Board (LSB) consultation on empowering consumers, saying that it must give frontline regulators room to understand consumer engagement and the challenges facing the public. Following a consultation launched by the LSB on a draft statutory statement of policy on empowering consumers, outlining how the […]
Law Society release home buying fraud warning for consumers
Home buyers are being warned about a spike in scams which have seen victims defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Law Society of England and Wales has joined forces with the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), which is housed within the National Crime Agency, and Action Fraud to issue flyers warning of […]
LSB to set out plans for greater transparency for consumers
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) launched a consultation on a draft statutory statement of policy on empowering consumers. Developed following engagement with the legal services regulators and others across the sector, it outlines how the regulators should ensure that people and small businesses who need legal advice have the information they need to shop […]
Improve information for consumers says LSB
The Legal Services Board has published a response to the submissions it received to its discussion paper on quality indicators. Published in February 2021, the paper prompted a wide-ranging debate over what quality means in the legal services market and how best to convey this to consumers. The response document concludes that there is still […]
Consumers happier than ever with legal services
The Legal Services Consumer Panel Tracker Survey reveals a general 4% increase in consumer satisfaction levels in 2021. Despite most legal services currently being provided remotely due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the Legal Services Consumer Panel Tracker Survey reveals that 83% of consumers remain satisfied with the level of service received in 2021, a slight […]
Conveyancing Association urges consumers to check with conveyancers on leasehold house cases
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has urged consumers to contact their conveyancers if they bought a leasehold house between 2000 and October 2015. This call follows the initial success of an industry campaign to deliver a fairer system and outcomes for those who have bought leasehold houses over the […]
LSB pushes legal regulators to put consumers first following BSB governance review
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) published the findings of its review of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) under the ‘Well-led’ standard of the LSB regulatory performance assessment framework. The oversight regulator found concerns about leadership and governance at the BSB and little evidence of a focus on the needs of consumers and the public interest. In response, […]
Highly Commended Spotlight: Best Direct to Consumer Offering
On Tuesday 25th May 2021, professionals from across the conveyancing sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry at The British Conveyancing Awards 2021. The inaugural awards took to the virtual stage, and were led by the fabulous award winning broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed. If you want a re-cap of the […]
Winner Spotlight: Best Direct to Consumer Offering
On Tuesday 25th May 2021, professionals from across the conveyancing sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry at The British Conveyancing Awards 2021. The inaugural awards took to the virtual stage, and were led by the fabulous award winning broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed. If you want a re-cap of the […]
LSB rally call to put consumers at heart of legal services
The Legal Services Board (LSB) launched a consumer-focussed strategy for legal services in England and Wales, and called for collaboration to reshape legal services to better meet society’s needs. The ambitious ten-year strategy reflects that the significant challenges facing the legal services sector can only be tackled by people and organisations working together to pursue […]
Consumers face high price premium when purchasing new builds
Price gap between new builds and existing properties in the UK reaches £64,6241 Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, says: “This latest data illustrates the level of the price premium consumers often have to swallow when purchasing a new build. “The wide gap between new build and existing property prices can be partly attributed to […]
SDLT holiday will lead to substantial consumer service issues
Today’s Conveyancer approached one of the largest specialist legal conveyancing companies in the UK to ask about their experiences of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday and their view on the approach the government should take. We hear from the Lloyd Davies, founder and Managing Director of residential conveyancing specialists Convey Law who believes […]
CLC Response To Legal Services Consumer Panel Quality Indicators Research
Responding to the publication by the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) of its research on consumers feedback on quality indicators in legal services, Sheila Kumar, Chief Executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) says: “We know from our own monitoring that CLC practices are complying well with the existing transparency requirements we introduced in […]
CLC Introduces New Codes To Improve Compliance And Consumer Protection
The revised accounts code that expressly allows regulated practices to deal more easily with aged balances up to £50 and to use third-party managed accounts (TPMAs) has now been approved by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved new account codes to deal with aged balances up to £50 and […]
Ask An Expert: Could Changing Consumer Behaviour Radically Affect Conveyancing?
At a time when simplifying the home move is high on the agenda, adopting technology has yet to deliver much meaningful change to transaction times. Today’s Conveyancer has recently been introduced to Alex Beagrie principal at Exchangetrain.co.uk who thinks he might have an unusual and unique solution. He recently spoke to David Opie and shared […]
Consumers Divided By Re-Opening Of The Property Market
A short survey conducted last week indicates that consumers are divided by the announcement to re-open the property market. The poll, conducted via Twitter by property journalist Louisa Fletcher, shows a 57%/43% split in favour of allowing estate agents into the home to conduct property viewings, suggesting that sentiment remains split. A third of overall […]