Fridays Blogger's blog

Many property owners are receiving notices from the Land Registry to say the Church Commissioners are claiming that they own the mineral rights in the property.  What should you do if you get one?

The Campaign for the Abolition of Residential Leaseholds would like to see the end of what they claim are a vestige of feudal times. And as a conveyancer, I have to say that I have a good deal of sympathy with their campaign, and I suspect that many lawyers will agree.

A recent newspaper article raised the suggestion that the 7% rate of stamp duty on property sales over £2m could prove an unexpected bonus for squatters! 

The HSBC has addressed growing criticism of the banks decision to massively reduce their mortgage customers' choice of solicitor.  But does it really mean a more choice for consumers?

Desmond Hutton, Chief Executive of the Law Society, has revealed that Estate Agents are advising HSBC mortgage borrowers about potential conveyancing delays resulting from the HSBC's recent lender panel cull.

The Nationwide Building Society, one of the UKs largest lenders, is in the process of cutting back its conveyancing panel on the basis of inactivity.  But does this pose the same threat to consumer choice that the recent HSBC panel cull does?

The Conveyancing Solicitor community is still reeling from the shock cull of thousands of law firms from the HSBC Conveyancing Panel in January 2012.The move by the HSBC has been seen as highly controversial, and the bank has been widely condemned for its actions by:The Law Society Solicitors...

A media storm has erupted from the recent decision by the HSBC Bank to axe thousands of Solicitors’ practices from its Conveyancing Lawyer Panel. Fridaysmove examines the impact of HSBC's decision on consumer interests.

What can you do to expedite transactions before First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Relief ends?  Well for starters you could instruct the Fridaysmove FTB taskforce for your Conveyancing

First Time Buyers who intend to take advantage of the stamp duty exemption for house purchases below £250,000 must act fast. With the March deadline for completions, property market specialists predict many hopeful first-timers will miss out.

Increasingly I am being asked by clients about my thoughts on the outlook for house prices in 2012.  I think this is primarily down to the increasingly wild disparity between the conjecture in the press.Obviously there has never been a crystal ball on house prices but never has it felt more...

It was meant to improve the standard of Conveyancing across the UK, but does the proliferation of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme herald the end for high street firms?

Squatting is not something that usually affects Conveyancing Solicitors, except in the context of title being claimed by adverse possession. However, recently reports of squatters taking possession of a house which was up for sale give some cause for concern.

 Will the housing market for buy-to-let property be affected by an impending change in Local Housing Allowance (LHA)? The demand for rented properties shows no signs of slowing down, as increasing numbers elect to rent rather than buy. 

Countrywide Conveyancing has announced the launch of a specialist new build Conveyancing teamThe department will service both developers and buyers of new homes.The complexities of new build purchases, together with various government initiatives available to new buyers, make it more important...

Local councils across Yorkshire are owed an estimated £5 million from developers, but it's the current property owners who may have to pay upConveyancing Solicitors acting for homebuyers are tasked to uncover any agreements or covenants which may affect the home they wish to purchase. These...

 ‘What is Gazanging?’ was the question on every home buyer and seller’s lips last month – but it has quickly become a (feared) household phrase among Conveyancing Solicitors and smarter homemovers.Whether or not Gazanging really exists, one thing is certain, the...

How will the new drainage ownership law affect the work of Conveyancing Solicitors? More delays?Important changes in the law which has just come into effect will have a significant effect for many property owners, particularly those in more rural areas - although few will probably realise...

Having polled a number of Conveyancing Solicitors at the 'coal-face' of the property market - most suggest that the real problem lies more with the generally weak state of the economy than Gazanging.

A Birmingham Conveyancing expert dicusses the potential impact of the Lib Dem conference

Now the practce of last minute vendor withdrawal has a name - Gazanging - will agents be reviewing their terms?

What impact will the ban on referral fees for Personal Injury have for Conveyancing Solicitors? Our Legal Manager Tony considers the evidence.

What impact will the anticipated shrink in the market mean for the average Conveyancing Quote's cost? We consider the impact of a recent report published by the National Federation of House Builders.