This website uses cookies

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to accept all cookies on the CLC website. You can change your settings at any time.

Blog

Making progress on indicators of quality

17 July, 2020

Comments from Stephen Ward, Director of Strategy and External Affairs at the CLC It is now some eighteen months since we along with other frontline legal regulators introduced new transparency requirements on the legal service providers we regulate. The aim was to enable consumers to be able to make a more informed choice in choosing [Read more]

Getting the home buying and selling process moving again

15 July, 2020

Stephen Ward, director of strategy at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, looks at how the conveyancing market is dealing with a return to work after the coronavirus lockdown   We’re now in the early stages of getting the home buying and selling process moving again after lockdown. This follows the publication of the cross-industry guide, Re-Opening [Read more]

The 2020 PII renewal round: some initial comments

7 July, 2020

Comments from CLC Director of Regulatory Standards, Simon Blandy. At the beginning of the PII renewal round this year, I commented on the ongoing pressures on the commercial insurance sector. At the time I said that these pressures would impact on PII renewal for CLC practices and noted that insurers had warned that pre-existing conditions [Read more]

Facing up to the digital identity challenge

29 May, 2020

The prevention of property fraud obviously relies on the accurate verification of the parties to the transaction. Even in the best of circumstances, conveyancers checking the identity of their clients personally can be inconvenient to both. It also relies on the skill and attention to detail of person doing the checking, which can be variable. [Read more]

Preparing for the 2020/21 PII Renewal round

22 May, 2020

The 2020/21 PII renewal round, comments from CLC Director of Regulatory Standards, Simon Blandy.   All CLC Practices must renew their PII policies by 30 June 2020. Overview of the current Insurance Market Insurers in the commercial insurance sector have reported losses since 2017 (see review).  They are rethinking their strategy, with many cutting capacity [Read more]

Identifying obstacles to career progression

21 May, 2020

While the guidance has changed to allow property buying and selling to re-start it seems it will take some time for, whatever the new usual will be, to develop. However, it will do so, and we want to use this period now as best we can to make sure that when it does conveyancing and [Read more]

Kindness matters in the workplace

18 May, 2020

In Mental Health Awareness Week, we are pleased to be able to share this blog post from the legal sector charity LawCare   Kindness is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May). The recent coronavirus pandemic has shown us all how much kindness matters in a crisis – with people clapping [Read more]

Five top tips for choosing your conveyancer

12 May, 2020

For those who plan to buy or sell a property in the next year, there are some things you can do now to help your property transaction go more smoothly. If you really want to hit the ground running, having already appointed your conveyancer will mean you’ll be ready to go as soon as you’ve found the [Read more]

Watch out for fraud and scams

7 May, 2020

Fraud is everywhere and conveyancing scams can hit people really hard as large sums of money are involved in housing transactions. Stephen Ward, director of strategy at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, explains what to look out for and how to protect yourself We must always be on our guard for online fraud, especially when [Read more]

The changing shape of the conveyancing market

20 April, 2020

Note: This article was written before the Covid-19 lockdown Bill Gates once said “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten,” and that so often proves to be true. Now more than ever the pace of change is rapid, [Read more]

What information should Property Portals show about all property listings?

10 February, 2020

National Trading Standards Estate & Letting Agency Team are looking for input from Conveyancers as they consider a list of prescribed material information (under the CPRs) that should be included with all property listings in the UK. Please respond directly to them 14th February 2020. Basic non-optional material information – applicable to all properties marketed in the [Read more]

Alexa, is my home ready to sell?

4 February, 2020

Stephen Ward, director of strategy at the CLC looks at what the home buying and selling process of the future might look Just five years ago, the idea of a smart, connected home still felt futuristic. However, in those intervening years, sales of Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa have exploded, surpassing 100 million in 2019 – [Read more]

How Strong is your Password

10 December, 2019

What links: 123456 123456789 qwerty password 111111 They are the five most common passwords used in 2019. Whether it’s at work or at home it is vital you use hard to crack passwords. And most importantly that you protect your email: Cyber criminals can use your email to access many of your personal accounts, leaving [Read more]

Helping improve the home buying and selling process

6 December, 2019

The CLC has been pleased to be part of the Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) which was was created to improve the home buying and selling process for consumers. It was set up shortly after the 2017 Government’s Call for Evidence which sought views on how to make the process of home buying and selling [Read more]

Making a start: creating a difference for diversity and inclusion

28 October, 2019

The Licensed Conveyancer profession, and the firms regulated by the CLC, are open and inclusive. It’s a non-graduate profession, so supports social mobility really well compared to other parts of the legal profession. It’s majority female, which might seem like a cause of celebration. But sadly, those women don’t make it to management and leadership [Read more]

Preventing suicide in the legal community

10 October, 2019

This year’s World Mental Health Day (10th October) focuses on suicide prevention. Suicide remains something of a taboo, especially in professional circles. We need to encourage a more open culture in the law where people talk about their feelings and ask for help. If you are worried about someone you work with, or a friend [Read more]

Understanding the language of conveyancing law: part two

9 September, 2019

In April, we gave a plain English guide to the most common terms used by professionals involved in the home-moving process. You can read it by clicking here. Professionals use these words so often in their working lives that they may forget to tell you what they mean. It was so popular and with being plenty [Read more]

Home buying: Be aware of the checks you have to go through

16 July, 2019

When you become involved in buying or selling a property many of the people you engage with, be it estate agents, property lawyers or mortgage brokers all seem to want the same sort of information from you before they’ll actually take you on as a client. Why is that? What they’re doing is establishing that [Read more]

Understanding the language of conveyancing law

11 June, 2019

A guide to the jargon used in the legal process of buying and selling property Moving home is stressful enough without having to spend time deciphering what exactly your lawyer is telling you. However well they communicate with you, there are certain terms that all professionals involved in the process will use so frequently that [Read more]

Conveyancing referral fees

31 May, 2019

Stephen Ward, director of strategy and external relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, discusses disclosure of referral fees paid by conveyancers to estate agents In the rollercoaster ride that can be buying a home, it is no surprise that many consumers use the conveyancer recommended by their estate agent. Research undertaken by the Council [Read more]

Putting the ‘new’ into new-build housing

1 May, 2019

  Innovation in house building and modern methods of construction could lead to more high-quality homes, writes Stephen Ward, director of strategy and external relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers Imagine a future where you can plan your new house online – where the walls are, what the kitchen looks like, whether you have [Read more]

Watch out for conveyancing fraud

5 April, 2019

There has been a worrying rise in authorised push payments fraud, especially when transferring money to buy a home. Stephen Ward, director of strategy at Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), explains what to look out for to avoid being scammed Figures produced by the finance industry group, UK Finance, reported that in 2018, consumers lost [Read more]

Informed choice: Helping you find the right conveyancer

4 March, 2019

Finding a lawyer to do the conveyancing when you buy or sell a house can feel overwhelming – many people simply take a referral from their estate agent. But, as Stephen Ward from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers explains, a recent rule change means consumers can now access detailed information on law firms to enable [Read more]

Influencing entry level legal education – your chance to shape the future

8 February, 2019

Claire Richardson, CLC Deputy Director of Authorisations and member Legal, Accounting and Finance T-Level design panel I’ve always felt it was a privilege to be involved in education and training, and the design and implementation of it, especially national government led programs. Why? Well, because it’s how as a country we shape and develop our [Read more]

Technology and disruption – the reality

14 January, 2019

Stephen Ward, director of strategy and external relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, gives an insight onto some of the innovations that are bringing about change in the conveyancing world For all of us who work in the property sector, there is more and more talk of a possible future where the norm will [Read more]

About

Consumers

Lawyers

Trainee Lawyers

Regulation