Property


Clients’ desperation grows as impact of Simplify cyber-attack stretches on

15 November 2021

Desperate consumers are looking at the feasibility of changing their lawyer as the impact of the cyber-attack on Simplify, the conveyancing giant, stretches into a second week.


Seller’s conveyancer calls police after harassment from buyers

10 November 2021

A conveyancer has described how she ended up fearing for her safety and calling the police after harassment from the buyers on the other side.


Tech firm buys conveyancers to test products in “live environment”

12 October 2021

A listed property technology firm has bought a firm of licensed conveyancers to help it test products in a “live environment” before they are launched.


Mortgage cryptocurrency “will lower cost of solicitors’ PII”

12 October 2021

A company seeking to become a linchpin in the property market is to trial a crypto-currency to replace the traditional transfer of money between banks and conveyancers.


First sale to use “gamechanger” e-signature completes

17 September 2021

The UK’s first-ever property deal using the new qualified electronic signature, which is being trialled by HM Land Registry, was completed this week.


Land Registry moves towards “gamechanger” type of e-signature

6 September 2021

HM Land Registry is to pilot the use of qualified electronic signatures that do not need to be witnessed, which it said could be a “gamechanger” for conveyancing.


Solicitors suspended for role in quick-sale property scheme

3 September 2021

Two solicitors who breached the trust of vulnerable clients in need of cash by acting in a dodgy quick home sale scheme have been suspended from practice.


Agents call for regulated companies to supply property logbooks

24 August 2021

Estate agents have called for the introduction of digital property logbooks, supplied by companies regulated by the government, to help speed up the conveyancing process.


Land Registry to pilot lawyer certificate scheme

11 August 2021

HM Land Registry is to pilot a new lawyer certification scheme in the next year to “help provide trust” in the information it receives.


June breaks all records as homebuyers race to beat SDLT deadline

21 July 2021

There were more property transactions in June than in any month on record as homebuyers rushed to beat the stamp duty land tax holiday deadline, HM Revenue & Customs revealed today.


Blockchain network aims to provide “missing link” for conveyancing

14 July 2021

A house in Kent is the first being sold using a blockchain network that connects conveyancers with estate agents and mortgage lenders.


Conveyancing platform aims to be “central source of truth”

16 June 2021

A conveyancing platform which aims to provide a “central source of truth” for buyers, sellers, estate agents and lawyers is being tested by law firms in Kent.


Stay polite and manage expectations, Law Society tells conveyancers

8 June 2021

The Law Society has urged under-pressure conveyancers stay civil as they manage the risk that transactions will not complete by the stamp duty deadline at the end of this month.


NAHL to exit conveyancing as it targets PI law firm growth

25 May 2021

NAHL plc is set to sell its residential conveyancing business as it looks to focus on growing its personal injury law firm in the wake of a difficult Covid-affected year for the business.


Surrey firm ordered to pay £800k for property negligence

20 May 2021

A Surrey law firm has been ordered to pay more than £800,000 in damages for negligence after failing to tell its client that part of a property he thought he had bought had been retained by the seller.

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