Solicitors urged to alert SRA to criminal charges (TC)
The SRA have recently urged solicitors to adhere to Part 4 of the Practising Regulations, following increasing media reports of solicitors being charged or convicted of crimes.
Just 10% of people with legal problems turn to a solicitor, major research finds (LF)
Only 10% of people with legal problems use a solicitor, and often only after approaching other sources of advice first, major government research has revealed.
Fear that probate fees rise could be ‘a new inheritance tax’ (EAT)
Ministry of Justice probate fee changes coming into effect this spring will affect all individuals inheriting an estate worth more than £50,000 – and those inheriting estates worth over £2m […]
Lender calls for Stamp Duty to be reformed into a seller’s tax (PIE)
Yorkshire Building Society has reiterated its calls to make Stamp Duty a seller’s tax ahead of the Budget next week.
Solicitors urged to alert SRA to criminal charges (TC)
The SRA have recently urged solicitors to adhere to Part 4 of the Practising Regulations, following increasing media reports of solicitors being charged or convicted of crimes.
Consolidator Metamorph makes niche property firm its latest deal (LF)
Alternative business structure and consolidator Metamorph Law has completed its second deal by taking over niche practice SLC Solicitors.
Lenders ‘wrecking one in five transactions because of down-valuations’ after deals agreed (PIE)
Banks and building societies are refusing to lend on about one in five properties because of down-valuations by their surveyors.
Bovis billed £7m to compensate owners of poorly-built homes (TC)
In the wake of Bovis Homes having to pay £7m in repair costs, new questions have been raised regarding the standard of new-build properties.
Building demand means 11 house hunters chase each property (TC)
In January, the number of properties available to purchase on estate agents’ books was 38. This is the lowest recorded amount since July 2016 and is a drop of 3 […]
LeO’s bid to give complaints data to comparison websites delayed by IT problems (LF)
Plans by the Legal Ombudsman is to give comparison websites details of complaints against law firms will be delayed by the service’s computer problems, it has emerged.
Record year reported for conveyancing firms (PIE)
Conveyancing volumes hit a record high in 2016 as the number of new firms operating in the market broke a five-year decline.
Law firms “more likely to pay cyber crooks” who lock their IT systems (LF)
More than a quarter of law firms that fall victim to ‘ransomware’ – software used by cyber crooks to block access to computer systems – end up paying £5,000 or […]