Property
Conveyancers “refusing to handle high-rise transactions”
Conveyancing firms are refusing to handle transactions involving flats in blocks with five or more storeys because of concerns about their liabilities under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Cyber-attack cost conveyancing giant £7m plus lost business
The November 2021 cyber-attack on the Simplify Group – the country’s largest conveyancing business – cost it £6.8m and also suppressed fee income, its annual report has shown.
Australian giant eyes further expansion in UK conveyancing market
PEXA, the Australian conveyancing technology giant that last year bought a UK law firm, could expand its operation here yet further by acquiring listed company Smoove, which also owns one.
All-digital trial sounds death knell for paper-based conveyancing
A project to build a digital settlement prototype that speeds up payments in conveyancing by linking banks, conveyancers and HM Land Registry has ended successfully.
Partner suspended for trying to “trick” farmer out of tenancy
A partner in a large Midlands law firm, who tried to “trick” an elderly farmer out of part of his protected tenancy in the way he sent notices to quit, has been suspended for a year.
Home sellers “would pay more for faster conveyancing”
Almost nine in 10 vendors would pay more to have a faster conveyancing process, new research has revealed. as we report too on the latest BASPI iteration and proptech investment.
High Court: Losses too remote for claim against law firm
A law firm has successfully fought off a former client’s bid to broaden a multi-million-pound negligence claim after the High Court found the losses too remote to be recoverable.
Reserved activities set to stay as they are for now
A full review of the reserved legal activities is not justified at the moment without a “fundamental” reappraisal of the Legal Services Act too, the Legal Services Board has concluded.
Conveyancers fined £33,000 for complaints and accounts breaches
A large firm of licensed conveyancers and its senior partners have been reprimanded and fined £33,000 after a Covid-related work surge overwhelmed its ability to handle complaints.
Negligence claim over law firm’s ground rent advice dismissed
A circuit judge has dismissed a negligence claim over a London law firm’s alleged failure to give a client proper advice on a how much the ground rent would increase under a lease.