Solicitor wins “Conveyancer of Year” award less than two years after joining firm (TC)
Less than two years into the job, Janine Edwards of Watkins & Gunn has been named “Conveyancer of the Year” at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards.
Law Society to spend £61m on new IT systems (LF)
The Law Society’s ruling council yesterday agreed to spend £61m over four years on new IT systems for both its representative and regulatory arms – although it is forecasting that […]
Simon Gerrard calls for landlords with five properties to be excused Stamp Duty surcharge (PIE)
Simon Gerrard, past President of the NAEA and managing director of high-profile London estate agency Martyn Gerrard, has called on new Chancellor Phil Hammond to suspend the Stamp Duty surcharge […]
Brexit gloom as RICS says new instructions in steepest fall on record (PIE)
New buyer enquiries in the run-up to and immediate aftermath of the EU referendum fell to their lowest reading since mid-2008, while instructions had their steepest fall on record with […]
Sustainable drainage: a tightening regime requiring duty of care (LF)
The Flood and Water Management Act of 2010 sought to enshrine Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and national standards for drainage across both new and existing property.
SRA hits back over criticism of handbook rewrite
The chief executive and chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority have hit back over criticism of their plans for a comprehensive rewrite of the handbook.
Legal watchdog begins search for £500 per day chair (LSG)
Recruitment has begun for a new chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel, to take over when current incumbent Elisabeth Davies steps down later this year.
Carney says owners and buyers should budget for interest rate rises (EAT)
House owners and buyers with mortgages in today’s market should budget to ensure they can “have enough headroom” for a rise in interest rates of as much as three percentage […]
Legal comparison sites struggling to attract providers (LSG)
An aspiring legal comparison website says it is encouraged by the competition watchdog’s controversial report on the sector – despite the report outlining how difficult these sites may find it to […]
MPs call for reintroduction of HIPs for new build homes (TC)
The vast majority of home buyers want surveys on new properties according to a poll by YouGov.
Solicitor whose “dysfunctional firm” failed to pay stamp duty to HMRC is struck off (LF)
The “chaotic” situation at a solicitor’s firm was no excuse for her failure to pay stamp duty to the HMRC, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled.
Making law firms publish average prices “is not perfect but it is needed” (LF)
The slow pace of change in the legal services market means “regulatory intervention” is needed to force firms to publish their average prices even though it is not a perfect […]