The rise of the Lagger

The Legal Services Act was intended to bring with it benefits for the consumer - indeed, our company has based its entire business on providing a high level and expert service to clients.

However, it is quickly becoming apparent that the companies moving into this market are finding ways to simply squeeze existing law firms, without, it appears ingadd significant value.

We have experienced this first hand this week, with aggressive telephone calls from progressors within panels, not party to the transaction but simply with a vested interest to get the deal through. They are not lawyers and have not been instructed to represent their client, and yet they take up time of instructed lawyers, potentially driving up costs for consumers. We like the phrase "Laggers" (short for Legal Naggers) that we are hearing, and hope that consumers will become more aware of the impact that they have on the costs that solicitors will need to charge for dealing with them when working on an hourly rate.

Finally, we are surprised that a firm with designs on dominating the market is looking to charge nearly 50% of the fee that will be paid to their panel lawyers simply for passing on the work. This is profiteering at its worst, and we fear that the liberalisation of legal services may not generate cost savings for consumers that might be hoped.

and we thought they were ripping up the rule book ...

The new government arrived with big scissors, red tape and a dolls house promising to reform the housing market. So they scrapped HIPs because they said that this would "free the housing market".

Clearly this didn't work as demonstrated by the pitiful volumes of transactions we're seeing at the moment. We accept that mortgage lending is weak, but the idea that scrapping one of the few seller qualifiers by getting rid of HIPs would encourage the market was fanciful at best.

Then, we were promised sweeping changes were going to be made to the Energy Performance Certificates, surely the most questionable aspect of recent property reforms. Amusingly, the shackles that were supposed to have been removed with their big scissors were being tightened up with the plan that agents couldn't market a property without the EPC,and the complete report needed to be included with the particulars.

We were surprised to say the least, that such reforming zeal could somehow be driven off-track so quickly, especially since the only real failings with HIPs was tying them to the marketing activity.

But ... Mr Pickles has now realised how difficult making changes to housing policy can be, and at the last moment, has delayed the decision until October.

We await the next instalment from the Great Reformers

Its just a theory we've got ...

Over the past few months, we've seen a flurry of activity around what we like to call "The Democratising of The Law". (That's a new expression that we've just thought of, but it's quite apt.)

From the "Solicitors-in-Smiths" initiative through to "Free Legal Services" from the Co-Op (there's got to be some sort of catch there, because otherwise that business model looks a little challenging) it seems that Law is the new consumer product.

Move over the Wii and TripAdvisor, because the fashion for 2011 is obviously comparing legal providers - I would guess that consumers are in for quite a lot of disappointment this year, with sky-high expectations being set...

The Bold Group - a Bold move?

There are some huge changes coming in the legal profession this year, with the breaking of the monopolies that mean that only lawyers can own law firms.

We've been working hard over the past year to establish ourselves as an innovative provider of legal services from conveyancing to wills, so its interesting to see that other firms are now looking at ways to innovate.

That's why we're delighted to be associated with The Bold Group, who are working with hundreds of firms looking to promote a personal yet highly efficient service for their clients.

Given the challenges ahead with lenders and large firms, we recognise that smaller firms hava a great deal to offer and so are delighted that Rob Hailstone has taken up the challenge.

Would you like some advice to go with your Will kit sir?

OK - so we knew that the liberalisation of the legal market was going to introduce some changes into the market, but we're a little surprised by the proposition that Quality Solicitors are now offering.

According to today's Law Society Gazette in over 150 branches of WHSmiths from this summer, it will be possible to book appointments for customers to provide conveyancing quotes, sell wills package and even offer their new loyalty card scheme.

This is a very interesting departure from the way that legal services are being sold, and we will watch carefully to see if it works.

Obviously, if it is successful, we'll be despatching our own solicitors onto the streets of Guildford with A-boards offering legal services to passers by.

Stamp Duty Land Tax savings schemes

Once again, the old adage has proved itself to be true.

"If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is".

Over the past couple of years, we have been approached by a number of companies trying to convince us of the merits of Stamp Duty Land Tax savings schemes. The idea is that there is a loophole in the law that "cannot be closed" according to one supplier that tried to convince us to work with him.

There are a number of variations on a theme, but fundamentally, the concept is that if you are buying a property, there are various schemes available to you that will enable you to legally avoid paying Stamp Duty Land Tax.

These schemes often involve sub-selling or buying through another company, so avoiding the tax that is normally due.

We have been extremely concerned about these schemes, not because it would cause us problems, but that our clients could suffer the consequences of when HMRC (formerly the Inland Revenue) finally catches up with those that have used them.

That's why we were very pleased to learn to read the lastest release from HMRC that explains their position, and that they are investigating instructions where they suspect such tactics were used.

This guidance note can be downloaded here which explains how HMRC view such schemes.

Confusion about Stamp Duty Land Tax rise

As most people are aware, from April 6th 2010, Stamp Duty Land Tax for properties costing over £1m will increase from the current 4% rate to a new 5% rate. This has caused a little confusion amongst buyers as to whether the tax is due at exchange of contracts or completion.
The law is clear on this, the tax is payable only on completion of the contract so anyone looking to purchase a property over £1m will need to complete the transaction before April 6th to ensure that they do not incur the additional cost.