Property in Practice March 2012
This edition features the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, regulation, commercial lease renewals, planning and the Localism Act, change of use, AML, capital allowances, service charge disputes,...
View ArticleProperty in Practice September 2012
This edition features lenders, tenants’ guarantees, the CQS, negligence in property practice, new builds, leasehold enfranchisement, rights of way, equity release and mortgage fraud
View ArticleReality check
The media and the Solicitors Regulation Authority website both told the same story in 2012: bogus law firms, created by criminals and often based on real firms to create legitimacy, are on the rise. So...
View ArticleMoney from home
Alison Clair looks at property fraud, particularly where the property is retained, how mortgage lenders are combating it, and how solicitors and mortgage lenders can work together to stamp it out
View ArticleA run for your money
Solicitors’ involvement in property fraud may be very small, but they remain an attractive target for fraudsters, with potentially dire consequences for both them and their firms. Grania Langdon-Down...
View ArticleRisky business
With the sobering news in January that 136 firms have folded, having failed to obtain professional indemnity insurance, Peter Rodd explains how firms could better manage risk to avoid becoming another...
View ArticleCourt of Appeal holds law firm accountable for lender's loss
Peter Reekie outlines the findings in the recent case around potential breach of negligence where a law firm is caught out by a fraudster
View ArticleSafe as houses
Conveyancing has traditionally been considered a high-risk area for complaints and insurance claims from both clients and lenders. Steve Ray explains how conveyancing firms can allay these concerns for...
View ArticleTaking care
Paul Philip will be giving the keynote plenary speech at the National Property Law Conference in October. Here, he outlines some of the findings from the SRA’s 2014 Risk Outlook and gives the SRA’s...
View ArticleLaw Society updates mortgage fraud practice note
On 31 July, the Law Society issued an updated practice note on mortgage fraud, to highlight new criminal methodologies. Practice notes are available online, free of charge
View ArticleChinks in the armour
With over a third of all professional negligence claims emanating from conveyancing, and insurance costs rising, effective risk management is crucial. Amy Bell provides an overview of some of the...
View ArticleIntelligence shortcomings make AML report findings misleading
Anti-money laundering supervisors across the UK legal sector have warned that a new report published by the Home Office and HM Treasury on the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing lacks...
View ArticleLand Registry issues warning over phishing emails
Land Registry has warned that some customers, including solicitors, have recently received fake or ‘phishing’ emails claiming to be requisitions or replies to requisitions from Land Registry
View ArticleOne step ahead
In the first article of our series focusing on fraud, Peter Rodd provides a practitioner’s perspective on fraud in residential conveyancing and practical steps to mitigate the risk.
View ArticleStanding guard
As part of our focus on fraud, Richard Hill looks at the challenges facing Land Registry, and the protections available to registered proprietors to guard against registration fraud
View ArticlePlaying it safe
Conveyancing continues to generate a significant number of professional indemnity insurance claims. Mark Carver looks at the reasons why, and the steps firms can take to mitigate their risk exposure
View ArticleNew Law Society advice on protection against scams
Law Society launches new webpage dedicated to helping firms protect themselves against being scammed and providing them with help and support if they have fallen victim to scamsters
View ArticlePAS FAQ: Direct payments between parties
I am acting for a client who is buying a house from a friend. Is it possible for my client to transfer the balance of the purchase monies directly to his friend?
View ArticleWarning signs
The High Court decision in Purrunsing v A’Court & Co is an important judgment on the liability of a seller’s solicitor and buyer’s solicitor where the buyer is the victim of a fraudulent seller....
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