Property
PE-backed conveyancing firm hits acquisition trail
Leading conveyancing firm O’Neill Patient – which was last year bought by a private equity firm – has acquired Cavendish Legal Group, the first of what it says will be “a number of acquisitions”.
Solicitor failed to advise on “obvious risks” of off-plan schemes
A solicitor who failed to advise on the “obvious risks” of four off-plan property development schemes has been fined £10,000. His advice was “so inadequate as to be incompetent”.
Employment and commercial work fare best during crisis
Employment and commercial work are seeing the biggest increases in demand from clients, research has found. However, lockdown has had a “devastating impact” on other practice areas.
Property logbooks next on list for home-buying reform
The property logbook is the next initiative to be investigated as part of work to speed up the home-moving process, although lockdown has hit other projects.
Speeding up the property buying process
Speeding up the process of property buying and selling has taken on new urgency following the conveyancing market meltdown due to Covid-19.
Consumers “ignore” conveyancing fraud risk as solicitor jailed
Consumers are more worried about the fee conveyancers charge to transfer their money than the risk of it being stolen, research has found at the same time that a solicitor is jailed for fraud.
Groups issue Covid-19 advice for conveyancers
Five bodies representing conveyancers have joined forces to issue detailed guidance to support the re-opening of the housing market while complying with social distancing.
Firm’s negligence had “disastrous consequences” for client
It is difficult to imagine a “more obvious breach of duty” by a conveyancing solicitor than failing to register its new owner, the High Court has said in a case where it had “disastrous consequences”.
Conveyancers lobby for furloughing flexibility
Conveyancers and other property stakeholders have called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to allow them to move staff in and out of furlough on a weekly basis as the home-moving market recovers.
Conveyancing cheer as government reopens housing market
Conveyancers, estate agents and others involved in the home-moving process can return to work today in line with social distancing advice, the government announced last night.
What crisis? Conveyancing firm secures £1.1m investment
Ground-breaking conveyancing law firm Muve has completed a £1.1m equity funding round, despite the property market grinding to a halt during the Covid-19 crisis.
NAHL eyes conveyancing work as profits tumble
Profits at NAHL plc – the company that owns National Accident Helpline – tumbled by nearly 80% in 2019 as it emerged it is testing whether to start handling conveyancing matters itself.
Conveyancers calls on government to extend furlough scheme
The furlough scheme should be extended for property businesses, like conveyancers, where income required to pay staff will not be available for months after work is undertaken once lockdown is lifted.
Court rejects “fanciful” conveyancing negligence claim
The High Court has rejected a “fanciful” £600,000 conveyancing negligence claim against the law firm Gateley, based on an error admitted by the firm.
Blog
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
Motor finance – the FCA is more worried about banks than consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority’s motor finance redress scheme announced last week amounts to one of the largest ever consumer failures by the regulator.
