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

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]

Improving the home-buying process

17 December, 2018

Issues and problems with the homebuying process are never far from the spotlight and it is no different at the moment. Whether it is lengthy purchase processes, poor advice on leasehold purchases or consumers being duped out of monies online the news often seems bleak. Behind the scenes though there is much work being done [Read more]

Money laundering – how vulnerable are you?

11 December, 2018

Stephen Ward, director of strategy & external relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, highlights how property can be vulnerable to money laundering Quote: “People have bought houses with cash, and somehow some… have not thought that that is remotely suspicious…” Ben Wallace MP, Minister for Security and Economic Crime, 12 September 2018 Fraud, in its [Read more]

Informed Choice: the benefits to your firm

27 November, 2018

The new Informed Choice requirements will bring benefits to CLC firms as well as consumers if the changes are fully embraced. From 6 December, firms licensed by the CLC will be required to display cost, service and regulatory information on their websites. The changes to our Regulatory Arrangements have been kept to a minimum to [Read more]

What should you do if you need to complain about your conveyancer?

13 November, 2018

Stephen Ward, from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) looks at some common reasons for conveyancing complaints and where consumers can turn to for help if things don’t quite go to plan Purchasing a property is often mentioned as one of the most stressful life events a person faces. Sitting alongside such life-changing events as [Read more]

New Northern Ireland initiative leads the way to best practice conveyancing process

17 July, 2018

The Law Society of Northern Ireland, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and NAEA Propertymark have agreed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to facilitate a more efficient conveyancing process for all involved.   The initiative is a positive move for the property market, setting a great example for the rest of the [Read more]

One-click conveyancing – reality or dream?

6 July, 2018

Stephen Ward, director of strategy at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), discusses changes that are going on in the conveyancing industry One-click conveyancing, digital workflows and online property purchase are all buzz phrases of the property world at the moment. As the government urges all of us in the industry to reform the homebuying [Read more]

About

Consumers

Lawyers

Trainee Lawyers

Regulation