Agents’ fees have risen only four per cent in a decade (EAT)
A survey released this morning shows that estate agents’ fees have risen only four per cent in real terms since 2007 – despite a substantial increase in house prices in […]
14 new areas of law set for reform – Law Commission (IC)
The Commission has focused on reforms which will reduce unfairness for the citizen and those which will help to enhance the UK’s competitiveness internationally following our exit from the European […]
SRA ponders penalties for failure to publish complaints data (LSG)
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has indicated that firms are to face disciplinary action if they do not abide by a potential requirement to publish data about complaints they receive – […]
Law Commission to explore leasehold and chancel repair liability (LSG)
Leasehold, trust law, smart contracts and chancel repair liability are among the 14 projects that the Law Commission will look at over the next three years.
Government’s suggestions for consumer awareness spark discussion in the industry (TC)
The Government’s ‘Call for Evidence’ has unsurprisingly sparked a variety of responses from across the conveyancing industry and beyond.
Law firms failing to tell clients who complain that they can go to LeO (LF)
Only a third of law firms are telling clients who make a complaint that they can refer it to the Legal Ombudsman if they are not satisfied with the outcome, […]
Anthony Gold latest law firm to be hit by cyber-attackers (LSG)
London firm Anthony Gold Solicitors is the latest to suffer a cyber-attack causing emails to be sent out apparently from a law firm’s address.
Agency withdraws claim about speed of exchanging contracts (EAT)
Independent Surrey-based estate agency Curchods has voluntarily withdrawn marketing material containing claims about its speed of exchanging properties, after the intervention of the Advertising Standards Authority.
Welsh stamp duty changes to “benefit more buyers than the chancellor’s targeted relief” (TC)
It’s been announced that the stamp duty waiver for first-time buyers will not apply in Wales from April 2018.
Bourns to chair streamlined Law Society board (LSG)
The review of governance of the Law Society of England and Wales took a step forward with the organisation’s governing council approval of the appointment of Robert Bourns as chair […]
‘Half of home movers feel lack of control’ says conveyancing sector firm (EAT)
A company supplying the conveyancing industry claims that new research reveals 55 per cent of home-movers are frustrated by a lack of control during the house-buying process – and that […]
Land Registry’s property ‘chatbot adviser’ fuels P45 fears (LSG)
Conveyancing solicitors fear HM Land Registry could put jobs at risk after learning that the agency has built a ‘chatbot’ online property adviser.