UK Housing Market Sees Marked Drop in Activity, Particularly in the South (IC)
Uncertainty fuelled by the European Union referendum has resulted in a marked drop in activity in the UK housing market with new buyer enquiries down significantly across the country.
Horizontal integration in action as funeral director sets up ABS (LF)
A family-run firm of funeral directors with 36 branches has become the first of its kind to set up an alternative business structure.
Question of Trust – views from the public and solicitors renew SRA mandate
Initial findings show that the public and profession agree that dishonesty and misuse of client money are the most serious offences for a solicitor, yet the public view the issue […]
MPs call for ‘much stronger supervision’ of estate agents (PIE)
The Home Affairs Committee has called for “much stronger” supervision of estate agents to tackle money laundering.
New free conveyancing portal will give agents access to conveyancing chains (PIE)
A new portal will give estate agents free and real-time access to the status of conveyancing chains.
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.