E-conveyancing at last? (LSG)
Solicitors and conveyancers could no longer be asked to witness signatures on Land Registry forms if proposals for electronic signatures are adopted.
News focus: E-conveyancing: 15 years on (LSG)
Digital optimists have welcomed a long overdue development that could make paperless conveyancing a reality after many false starts. But there are reasons to be sceptical.
NHBC accused of issuing gagging orders to claimants (PIE)
New-build warranties provider NHBC has come under fire for allegedly imposing confidentiality clauses on home owners who make complaints or claims on their properties.
Law firm insurer fails in High Court bid to recover property fraud losses from solicitor (LF)
A highly experienced solicitor who breached the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 in a property transaction that led to a £500,000 fraud did not act dishonestly, the High Court has ruled.
Advertising watchdog to be asked to decide what an agent’s ‘commission’ means (PIE)
The term ‘commission’ in the context of estate agency is set to be at the heart of a complaint to the advertising watchdog.
Beware the Rentcharge “Scam” – and it’s Perfectly Legal (IC)
Rentcharges (technically Rentscharge but let’s not be too pedantic) originated in the early part of the last century and were a means for builders to develop land without paying a […]
A new way to buy? Mortgage lender offers to pay stamp duty (EAT)
One of Britain’s biggest mortgage companies has come up with a new way to try to boost buying across the housing market – paying stamp duty for a purchaser, but […]
Agents blasted by Which? for asking price ‘over-valuations’ (EAT)
The consumer body Which? claims that 19 per cent of properties sold in the year to September went for prices five per cent or more below their initial asking price.
Changes to the CLC’s Accounts Code (IC)
Changes to the CLC’s Accounts Code are proposed to reduce the regulatory burden on specialist conveyancing and probate firms.
Fraud cases: how indemnity payments are recovered (TC)
Anyone who suffers loss from an omission or error in the land register will usually be compensated.
Call to give SRA power to strike off solicitors (LF)
Disciplinary cases involving solicitors are now akin to High Court trials and there needs to be a major overhaul that would make the Solicitors Regulation Authority responsible for handing out […]
Roundtable: Cybersecurity for Law Firms
As fears of cybercrime and data theft proliferate, how can law firms protect themselves against the scammers?