TA6 Guidance Impact On Property Sector (TC)
New guidance now places greater emphasis on the buyer to research issues which could present problems in the future.
Electronically signed deeds are legal, lord chancellor confirms (LSG)
The lord chancellor said that electronic signatures ’are permissible and can be used in confidence in commercial and consumer documents’.
Conveyancing fraud gang jailed for diverting deposit monies
Fraudsters who hacked into clients’ accounts to divert conveyancing funds intended for their solicitor have been jailed.
Trading Standards demands “material information” in property details (EAT)
Trading Standards says agents must include more “material information” in property details even if this may not be a wholly positive point for the home in question.
Buy-to-let landlords face ‘seismic’ CGT tax change
People selling buy-to-let properties or other property owners could clock up financial penalties due to ‘seismic’ changes to the capital gains tax payment rules, a tax expert has warned.
Using our forms for complex and more unusual transactions (PG21)
How to prepare and complete transfer forms TR1, TR2, TR5 and TP2 for transactions that are not straightforward and information on completing forms for unusual transactions (practice guide 21).
Competition watchdog attacks conveyancer-developer tie-ups (LSG)
The government could get tough on conveyancers who develop cosy relationships with developers after the Competition and Markets Authority expressed serious concerns.
Competition watchdog finds ‘mis-selling’ of leasehold homes (PIE)
The Competition and Markets Authority has announced that it has found “troubling” evidence of mis-selling of leasehold homes and that it is set to launch enforcement action.
Regulation of agents on ‘list of priorities’ but no date for implementation (PIE)
The regulation of sales and letting agents remains on the government agenda – but not even the civil servants responsible know how high or low in the list of priorities […]
Why recommending a lawyer on the strength of their referral fee could put an agent in jail (PIE)
If you’re a negotiator working for an agent whose management insists you recommend a lawyer or a panel purely due to the size of the referral fee they receive, you […]
Reservation Agreement trials delayed until late spring (EAT)
Trials of reservation agreements for buyers and sellers have been delayed until the late spring.
Referral Fees: No change “for a while” but reform coming (EAT)
The Trading Standards report on the future of referral fees is almost completed and will be sent to government next week.