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News

CLC applies to amend rules to drive better information for consumers

30 July, 2018

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has submitted an application to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to amend its rules and require licensed firms to improve information to support consumer choice. The changes aim to empower consumers to make better informed decisions about their choice of legal service provider. The new requirements also aim to [Read more]

Acting as Ancillary Insurance Intermediaries: Update

25 July, 2018

We will be making changes to the relevant sections of the CLC Handbook to ensure all of CLC-regulated Practices will be compliant with the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) when it comes fully into force on 1 October 2018. The CLC is a Designated Professional Body regulating CLC Practices as Exempt Professional Firms under Part XX [Read more]

first direct – changes to the way mortgage instructions will be issued to conveyancers

20 June, 2018

first direct – changes to the way in which mortgage instructions will be issued to conveyancers We’d like to inform you of a change to how you are instructed by first direct. Currently, all first direct instructions to conveyancers are sent in a paper format. From 02/07/18 first direct will be issuing these instruction by [Read more]

Statement on LSB’s investigation into Law Society oversight of SRA

31 May, 2018

Reacting to today’s publication by the Legal Services Board (LSB) of its investigation into the Law Society’s (TLS) oversight and monitoring arrangements for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Dame Janet Paraskeva, Chair of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers said: ‘Given that its interim chair says that “[The Law Society’s] actions have impaired the effectiveness of [Read more]

CMA transparency recommendations: Consultation on implementation

30 May, 2018

The CLC is currently consulting on the Implementation of the CMA transparency recommendations set out in its Legal Services Market Study. The consultation paper can be viewed here  and responses need to be receieved by 5pm on Friday 29 June 2018

Consultation on Review of Licence and Practice Fee Arrangements

18 May, 2018

The CLC is currently consulting on licence and practice fee arrangements. The consultation paper can be viewed online  and responses need to be receieved by 5pm on Friday 22 June 2018

CLC responds to Dreamvar ruling

16 May, 2018

In response to today’s ruling re Dreamvar, Simon Blandy, director of regulatory standards, Council for Licensed Conveyancers, says: “This is an extremely important ruling that raises a lot of questions without answering them all. As a regulator we will have to scrutinise it closely before deciding what action, if any, we need to take. But [Read more]

Intervention into Joanne Hewitt Conveyancing Services

16 May, 2018

Joanne Hewitt Conveyancing Services Intervention into Joanne Hewitt Conveyancing Services – 15 May 2018 In light of breaches of the Code of Conduct and to protect the interests of the firm’s clients, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has intervened into Joanne Hewitt Conveyancing Services Trading from Metropolitan House Longrigg Road, Swalwell Gateshead NE16 3AS [Read more]

CLC Reports Government’s Commitment To Reforming The Home Buying And Selling Process Still Strong

3 May, 2018

Following a productive meeting with Minister for Housing, Heather Wheeler MP, Dame Janet Paraskeva, Chair of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, said: “It was very positive to confirm how closely the government’s agenda for improving the home buying and selling process aligns with the CLC’s own objectives. It is clear that the Minister and her department are [Read more]

HM Treasury agrees money laundering guidance

6 March, 2018

HM Treasury has approved the Legal Sector Anti-Money Laundering Guidance prepared by the AML Legal Supervisors. The guidance takes into account of the changes introduced by Money Laundering Regulations 2017  which came into force on 26 June 2017. The AML Legal Supervisors comprise the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), along with other legal sector regulators and representative bodies. Find [Read more]

CLC aims to be ‘regulator of choice’ by 2022

24 January, 2018

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has set out its ambition to be the regulator of choice for all property lawyers, meaning those it regulates take an ever-larger share of the conveyancing market. The CLC has previously explored widening the scope of its regulation to encompass activities other than conveyancing and probate, but – publishing [Read more]

Improving the home buying and selling process

23 October, 2017

On 8th April 20128, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid responded to submissions to his call for evidence on making the home buying process cheaper, faster and less stressful for those involved. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is determined to support improvements to the home buying process. It is only through a number of changes – some [Read more]

CLC urges firms to promote the features and quality of their services to consumers

29 September, 2017

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is urging firms to improve the way they promote the features and quality of their services to help consumers move away from a focus on price alone. This follows recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CLC hopes firms will respond positively to the recommendations from the CMA and that they [Read more]

Views of the 2017 PII renewal round

15 August, 2017

According to this year’s survey of the profession following the PII renewal round, more firms secured quotations from two or more insurers than last year (62%, up from 51% in 2016). Satisfaction levels with the process remained at broadly the same high levels and there were suggestions for further improvement of the process. We will [Read more]

Leasehold of new properties

28 July, 2017

The CLC very much welcomes the government’s consultation on tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market. (Read more) The use of leasehold for new build properties that do not require a leasehold ownership arrangement seems to be another manifestation of what has been described as the ‘broken housing market’. It is not yet clear why housebuilders [Read more]

HSBC Panel Management changes

27 July, 2017

HSBC has announced that its panel management services will in future be provided by LMS. All CLC regulated firms will continue to be able to act for HSBC as now. HSBC has issued a statement with useful information about the transition to the new arrangements. Read HSBC’s statement and FAQs.

SRA removes barrier to transfer between regulators

13 July, 2017

The CLC is pleased that the SRA has decided to remove a barrier that has prevented lawyers from exercising their right to choose the most appropriate regulator for their business. The CLC’s regulation of specialist conveyancing and probate lawyers delivers high standards of consumer protection and supports innovation in the delivery of legal services. The [Read more]

Disciplinary sanctions: consultation

10 July, 2017

The CLC, the regulator of specialist conveyancing and probate lawyers has today published proposed guidelines for sanctions to be used by its Adjudication Panel when making decisions in disciplinary cases. The new guidance will help the Adjudication Panel, ensuring consistency and a common view of the appropriate level of sanction in different cases. It will [Read more]

CLC publishes Action Plan for better-informed consumers in response to CMA recommendations

29 June, 2017

Council for Licensed Conveyancers to consult in autumn 2017 on detailed proposals for increasing transparency of price and service quality information for consumers Expectation that a market solution will mean that limited regulatory action is needed to implement the CMA’s recommendations The regulator and representative bodies for specialist conveyancing and probate lawyers see opportunities for [Read more]

Streamlining and strengthening the practice approval process

15 May, 2017

We’ve been licensing Alternative Business Structures (ABS) since October 2011. In that time, we’ve gained a great deal of experience in the different regimes for ABS firms and Recognised Bodies (RB) – often called traditional firms. It has become clear that, contrary to fears expressed by some at the time the Legal Services Act introduced [Read more]

Value for money regulation

12 May, 2017

Three-quarters of CLC lawyers think that regulation by the CLC provides value for money and supports innovation and growth in their business. Now the CLC has launched a consultation on the objectives and principles that should govern the setting of licence and practice fees. This follows a 20% reduction in entity fee rates in 2016. A key [Read more]

Reporting on 2016: Regulating specialist conveyancers and probate lawyers

4 May, 2017

Regulating specialist conveyancers and probate lawyers Looking back on 2016 as the Council for Licensed Conveyancers published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year, Chief Executive Sheila Kumar said: ‘The LSB’s assessment of our performance as well as the very positive views of those we regulate show that we are on a very firm footing [Read more]

HSBC raises maximum loan threshold for dual representation by sole practitioners

31 January, 2017

On January 30th 2017 HSBC made a change to their Residential Purchase Conveyancing Policy, increasing the maximum loan threshold for CQS and CLC sole practitioner firms to act for both the customer and the bank via dual representation. The threshold has increased from £150,000 to £350,000. This change applies to new applications from that date. There [Read more]

CLC Responds to Competition and Markets Authority Report on Legal Services

15 December, 2016

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has reacted to the release today of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Market Study on the legal sector. The CMA’s key recommendations for front line regulators are: Action to deliver a step change in standards of transparency to help consumers (i) to understand the price and service they will [Read more]

CLC Business Plan for 2017 and Annual Regulatory Return Analysis published

25 November, 2016

The CLC has today published two documents that will underpin its work in 2017 and beyond: the Annual Regulatory Return (ARR) Analysis 2016 and its business plan for 2017. The analysis of the Annual Regulatory Return (ARR) looks at a great deal of information provided by firms regulated by the CLC about the systems and [Read more]

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