2023 Logbook Pilot Challenges Assumptions

2023 Logbook Pilot Challenges Assumptions

During the summer of 2023, conveyancing solicitors in a working group questioned the belief that introducing a property logbook would streamline the conveyancing aspect of purchasing a home. In response, the Home Buying & Selling Group’s (HBSG) Logbook Working Group decided to initiate a new pilot to address the concerns raised by lawyers and conveyancers […]

Inflation Dips as Mortgage Market Recovers

Inflation Dips as Mortgage Market Recovers

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that the inflation rate for March was 3.2%, a slight decrease from February’s 3.4%. This update comes after the Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to maintain the interest rate at 5.25%. With inflation showing a downward trend, there is less pressure on the BoE […]

2024 BASPI Update: Enhancing Property Information

2024 BASPI Update: Enhancing Property Information

Trade and representative organisations from the conveyancing, legal, surveying, estate agency, and property management industries, including the Conveyancing Association, unveiled the latest version of the BASPI—Buyer’s and Seller’s Property Information form on March 28th, 2024. The BASPI is crafted by the upfront information working group within the Home Buyers and Sellers Group (HBSG) and acts […]

Revised TA6 Form Boosts Clarity

Revised TA6 Form Boosts Clarity

The Law Society of England and Wales has introduced a revised TA6 Property Information Form, aligning with the National Trading Standards’ guidelines on essential property information. This updated form includes details recommended by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) for property listings, urging sellers to involve their solicitors early in the […]

UK Inquiry into Conveyancers and Sales Practices

Parliamentarians are set to scrutinise the roles of conveyancers, the provision of upfront information, and referral fees in a comprehensive examination of the property transaction process. The House of Commons’ Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Committee has called for submissions, seeking insights into various facets of property buying and selling mechanics, information availability and delivery, […]

Employment Tribunal Compensation Limits Increasing

Employment Tribunal Compensation Limits Increasing

Individuals bringing employment tribunal claims in the UK will see a notable increase in the maximum compensation they can be awarded. Under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024, the following limits will apply from 6 April 2024: Maximum compensatory award The maximum compensatory award rises from £105,707 to £115,115, allowing individuals to potentially […]

Child Maintenance Service Application Fee to be Waived

changes to child maintenance service february 2024

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to scrap the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) application fee from 26 February 2024. Anyone with children under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education) can use the government’s CMS to arrange child maintenance payments if a financial arrangement cannot be made by the […]

New Ban on Disposable Vapes

ban on disposable vapes

Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK, under new laws proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but the government said disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming […]

Immigration Health Surcharge to Increase No Earlier Than 16 January 2024

immigration healthcare surcharge increase 2024

Following publication of the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023, it has been confirmed that the UK’s Immigration Health Surcharge will increase no earlier than 16 January 2024. The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 is the draft legislation that will implement the fee changes. According to the draft, the increases will take effect between 16 January 2024 and […]

New Smoking Law to Create Smoke-Free Generation

smoking ban

The UK government will create a “smoke-free generation” by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to introduce a new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. In a statement on […]

Costs Cap on Lower-Value Medical Negligence Claims from April 2024

Costs Cap on Lower-Value Medical Negligence Claims from April 2024

Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims from April 2024, the Department of Health has announced. The new system of fixed recoverable costs will limit the amount claimant solicitors can charge when advising on clinical negligence cases of £25,000 or less. In a statement announcing the new rules, Minister for Health, […]

UK ETA Travel Permit Guide

UK ETA Travel Permit

The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is opening in 2023, as part of the government’s new universal “permission to travel” requirement. Under the new scheme, certain travellers, including non-visa nationals and Creative Worker visa holders, travelling to the UK will have to secure authorisation in advance of travel by completing an online form and paying […]

Visiting Rights to Legally Become Part of Health & Care Settings

Care Support Bill Proposed to Give Hospital & Care Home Visitin

New secondary legislation is set to be introduced giving the legal right for visits in health and care settings. Under plans announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, visiting is to become a legal requirement for hospitals, care homes, mental health units and other health and care settings. The move follows Labour MP […]

New Economic Crime Bill Amendment Tackles SLAPPs

defamation

The UK government has announced new legislation to prevent large corporations and wealthy individuals from hindering investigative journalism and free speech using so-called SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) claims. Under the proposed amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, judges will be given new powers to dismiss claims deemed to have been brought […]

Government set to stop student visa holders bringing family members to UK

The UK Government has announced visa changes that will prevent most international students from being able to bring family members with them to the UK as dependants. A joint statement issued by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and Education Secretary, Michelle Keegan, on 23 May 2023 stated that the UK’s student dependent visa is to […]

No-Fault Evictions to be Abolished

Legal Bid to Protect Tenants from ‘Ghost Landlords’ Fails

So-called ‘no fault evictions’ are set to be abolished under new government plans aimed at tackling rogue landlords. The new Renters’ (Reform) Bill will eliminate the right to evict tenants without having to prove fault. Communities Secretary Michael Gove said the measure is aimed at a “minority” of landlords who mistreat their tenants, as he […]

UK Regulators Launch Review into AI Models

ICO orders facial recognition firm Clearview AI to delete all data about UK residents

The UK Government has asked regulators in the UK, including the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), to conduct reviews into the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models. The CMA is now initiating an initial review into competition and consumer protection considerations of AI innovations. The review will look to determine how the implementation […]

Financial Product Cold Calling to be Banned in UK

cold calling ban uk

Under a proposed new law, the UK is set to ban cold calling of financial products. The change comes as part of a clampdown on fraud by prohibiting telemarketing calls for financial products such as insurance and cryptocurrency schemes. The plan to combat fraud includes measures to prevent “spoofing” of phone numbers. This is when con […]

Ombudsman Rules ‘No Kids’ Rental Policy Discriminatory

Ombudsman Rules 'No Kids' Rental Policy Discriminatory

The Property Ombudsman has ruled that a letting agency’s policy of not renting to families with children is in breach of its code of conduct by discriminating against women. Lexi Levens, an NHS nurse, brought the landmark legal challenge with homeless charity Shelter, after her family was forced to register as homeless. Having been served a […]

UN Refugee Agency Brands UK Asylum Bill “Very Concerning”

UN Refugee Agency Says UK Asylum Bill "Very Concerning"

New legislation aimed at removing all migrants who illegally cross the English Channel is being proposed by the UK Government. Under the new Illegal Migration Bill, anyone found to have entered the country illegally will be removed from the UK within 28 days and blocked from returning or claiming British citizenship in future. Those who […]