Crimestoppers & the Safe Buyer Scheme launch Home Buyers Safety Campaign to Consumers
Crimestoppers, the independent crime-fighting charity, has launched its national consumer fraud awareness campaign in partnership with the Safe Buyer Scheme.
CLC publishes Action Plan for better-informed consumers in response to CMA recommendations
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has today published its Action Plan to implement the recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). These are aimed at ensuring that consumers are able to make well-informed choices of legal service provider. The key recommendation from the CMA asks the legal services regulators to ‘deliver a step change […]
Safe Buyer Scheme partners with Crimestoppers to promote safe conveyancers to consumers
The Safe Buyer Scheme is pleased to announce that, following recognition of the steps they have taken to prevent fraud in the property industry, they are now working with Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police solve crimes, making communities safer.
SRA say replacing stolen deposits among top reasons for compensating consumers
Replacing stolen funds intended for housing deposits was one of the top reasons the Solicitors Regulation Authority had to make grants from the Compensation Fund to pay consumers last year.
Home buying a top consumer concern for younger generation
Being able to purchase a home has been ranked as one of the top three most pressing consumer concerns by the younger generation.
BPL Solicitors to distribute consumer guide to Lease Administration Fees
BPL Solicitors, members of The Conveyancing Association (CA) – the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has today (8th March 2017) announced it will be distributing a consumer guide on leasehold property, specifically outlining the fees and charges that clients may have to pay to a Lease Administrator. The document entitled, ‘Leaseholder Guide to […]
Conveyancing Association publish consumer guide to Lease Administration Fees
The Conveyancing Association (CA), the leading trade body for the conveyancing industry, has recently (6th March 2017) published its guide for consumers on leasehold property,
Key milestone celebrated as 1000th consumer registers for tmconnect
tmgroup are pleased to announce that they have reached yet another key milestone with their tmconnect consumer portal
Consumer feedback furthers digital mortgage development
Land Registry have highlighted the importance of user feedback when a new service is being introduced.
Should consumers trust conveyancing “dabblers”?
As property transactions levels grew particularly in Q2 of this year, so did the number of occasional conveyancers or firms which merely ‘dabble’ in conveyancing.
SRA starts discussion on better information for consumers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has today published initial ideas for improving the information available about law firms and solicitors, which could help consumers make more informed choices and result in a more competitive legal sector. In its discussion paper, “Regulatory data and consumer choice in legal services”, the SRA explores what information it could […]
Solicitor and consumer opinion contributes to Law Society’s SRA proposal response
In response to the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) consultation, the Law Society have published their own report based on their surveys of both consumers and Society members.
Breaking consumer warnings of property fraud
The latest episode of Rip Off Britain aired live on BBC this morning (12 October 2016) sheds fresh light to consumers on email scams within property transactions.
The impact of the unfair terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 on flat leases
Roundlistic Ltd v Jones & Anor [2016] UKUT 325 (TCC) (07 July 2016)
Chair of Legal Sevices Consumer Panel calls for firms to publish average prices
The Chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel says publishing average prices could be “the catalyst needed for consumers to make detailed enquiries about cost.” Writing on the Panel’s website the chair says the publication of such information could help bring down complaints to the Legal Ombudsman with costs issues making up 26% of those […]
Lawyer Checker launches Consumer Bank Account Checker
Monday 4th July sees Lawyer Checker launch Consumer Bank Account Checker, a service that further aids conveyancers when remitting funds or receiving funds from their client. Lawyer Checker already provides checks to combat the dangers of sending funds to a vendor conveyancer and can assist in added due diligence when transmitting funds to or from […]
How can the consumer’s home purchase/sale experience be improved?
Eddie Goldsmith discusses issues within the home buying and selling process, following a roundtable hosted by the Conveyancing Association attended by many industry stakeholders.
How Consumer Protection Regulations affect environmental searches
Location Intelligence experts Groundsure are committed to assisting solicitors with their training especially in light of the new Law Society Practice Note on Consumer Protection Regulations. The Consumer Protection Regulations apply to any ‘business to consumer’ commercial practice, which in our field would be solicitor / conveyancer to home owner (client). These practices apply to […]
SRA updates handbook for new consumer credit regulations
The Solicitors Regulation Authority have updated their handbook to take into account changes in consumer credit regulations. The new version, version 16, marks the beginning of a new regime for consumer credit. Transitional arrangements put in place by the Financial Conduct Authority have ended. Solicitor firms are now covered by SRA regulation as long as […]
Government to call for evidence on making the house buying process “more consumer friendly”
As part of George Osborne’s budget announcements, the UK Government has said it intends to ask for evidence on how to make the house buying process better value for money. Citing as yet unpublished guidance from he Department for Business, Skills and Innovation, the detailed budget announcement read: “Consumers spend £270 million each year on […]