Property
Conveyancers set sights on growth after challenging year
A large number of conveyancers are focused on growing their businesses this year, even though some have struggled to cope with the workload of a hot property market, research has found.
MPs warn of dangers of stamp duty “cliff edge”
Conservative and Labour MPs have warned of the danger that the property market will fall off a “cliff edge” when the stamp duty holiday ends at the end of March.
Parliament to debate call to extend SDLT holiday extension
MPs will next week debate a petition signed by over 130,000 people calling for a six-month extension to the stamp duty land tax holiday, which is due to end on 31 March.
High Court rejects “unmeritorious claim” against barrister
The High Court has rejected an “unmeritorious” negligence claim against a barrister brought by a former law lecturer acting as a litigant in person.
Treasury cool on renewed call to extend SDLT holiday
The time-limited nature of the stamp duty land tax holiday is why people are looking to use it, the government has said in response to conveyancers’ call to extend it.
Minister urges councils to speed up searches amid conveyancing rush
The housing minister has written to local authorities whose delays in returning searches are putting conveyancers under pressure ahead of the stamp duty holiday deadline on 31 March.
Search organisations set out insurance rules for conveyancers
The body that represents property search companies has written to conveyancers’ representatives to set out ground rules for using search insurance at a time when councils are struggling to deliver.
Leading conveyancing firm spends £27m on referral business
Leading conveyancing firm O’Neill Patient – which was last year bought by a private equity firm – has spent £27m to buy a platform providing services to mortgage brokers and estate agents.
Investment schemes causing “huge number” of claims
Dubious investment schemes involving solicitors are becoming “far more sophisticated” and leading to a “huge number of claims” on the Compensation Fund, the SRA has warned.
Commercial property solicitor’s “outrageous failure” leads to strike-off
A solicitor whose conduct of several property transactions has triggered multi-million-pound negligence claims against his former firm has now been struck off.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
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