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?
TPO spells out when pre-contract deposits may be acceptable (EAT)
The Property Ombudsman has reiterated its new guidance in relation to agents accepting pre-contract deposits in certain circumstances.
Need to control Japanese knotweed grows (TC)
Following a landmark court ruling, property professionals are being urged to implement plans to effectively control Japanese knotweed.
Tribunal fines solicitor convicted after being taken in by ‘Pope’s banker’ conman (LF)
The solicitor who safeguarded more than £100,000 of stolen cash for a charismatic conman posing as the Pope’s banker has been fined £2,000 following her conviction for transferring criminal property.
Land Registry consultation: movement towards digital conveyancing (TC)
If a set of proposals by the Land Registry are approved, paper property deeds may finally be replaced by electronic documents.
Legal Ombudsman suspends publication of complaints data over accuracy concerns (LF)
The Legal Ombudsman has pulled from its website the details of law firms and chambers that have been subject to complaints because of concerns over their accuracy, it has emerged.