ConveyancingFOCUS By
ISSUE 4 | AUTUMN 2015
MODERN LAW Conveyancing Conference CLIENTS DEMAND TRANSPARENCY Checkaprofessional Make It Easy TAXING MATTERS STax on Commercial Taxation Changes THE AIR THAT YOU BREATH Monitoring Air Quality IT’S HISTORY Historical Land Use SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
THE BUSINESS OF BAKING Interview With Mary Berry
www.searchesuk.co.uk
Headline Sponsor
Thursday 3rd December 2015 Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, London “Tackling the real issues facing serious conveyancers today” Conference Chairman – Eddie Goldsmith, Goldsmith Williams
www.mlconveyancingevents.co.uk Conveyancing Association Members £65 ex.vat Non-Members £85 ex.vat For Event Enquiries: ellie.campbell@charltongrant.co.uk Or call 01765 600909
making lawyers’ lives easier
ConveyancingFOCUS By
CONTENTS
4
Industry News Alto Digital and Apportionment Calculator Recall and What’s APPening
6 The interview 9 Searches UK 10 Groundsure 11 Searches UK 13 Landmark 14 Career Ladder
Mary Berry on the business of baking
The #ConveyancingFocus £100 selfie... Historical mapping for risk assessment Tailoring products for your needs Monitoring air quality Searches UK’s Risk & Compliance Manager, Faye Stenning, on her career path
15 16 17 19 20
Searches UK : Meet The Team
WELCOME “Welcome to our latest issue of ConveyancingFOCUS, the fourth instalment of Searches UK’s magazine covering all areas of property related business. In this edition, we have an exclusive interview from Mary Berry, exciting Law as
articles
from
Conveyancing well
as
insightful
Groundsure,
Conference, interviews
Landmark,
the
Checkaprofessional from
the
Searches
Modern
and
STax,
UK
team.”
Lisa Summerton & Andrew Stenning.
Get to know three more members of the Searches UK team
Meet Sid… Sid is the official mascot for Searches UK and is hiding somewhere
Modern Law Conveyancing Conference
co.uk letting us know the page he is on, along with your name, firm and
Checkaprofessional Encouraging quality and transparancy
STax Taxing matters
Searches UK Online Ordering Platform & News
in this issue of ConveyancingFOCUS, if you find him, email sid@searchesuk. position for the chance to win £50 vouchers of your choice. Follow Sid on Twitter @searches4sid Feature with us… Our magazine is brought to you by a team of industry professionals to provide the very latest news, trends, offers and information about the legal, property and conveyancing sectors. If you would like to feature in ConveyancingFOCUS, please email marketing@searchesuk.co.uk, call us on 0800 043 1815 or visit www.conveyancingfocus.co.uk.
Produced by: Searches UK Published by: Portfolio Publications www.portfoliopublications.co.uk
Printed by: Gemini Press Front cover Image: Courtesy of Searches UK, Mary Berry image courtesy of Shutterstock.
All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher.
Head Office Unit 2, 136-140 Old Shoreham Road Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7BD T: 0800 043 1815 F: 0845 241 1817 W: www.searchesuk.co.uk E: info@searchesuk.co.uk
Midlands Office The Garden House The Owl House Shottery Village Stratford Upon Avon CV37 9HA www.conveyancingfocus.co.uk
ConveyancingFOCUS: Industry News
PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS More tools to benefit your clients from Searches UK Searches UK’s apportionment calculator is clever and easy to use, featured on our website, it allows you to determine the maintenance and ground rent due on completion for your clients. This handy tool is completely free and could save you invaluable time so you can dedicate your attention to more important matters.
....This incredibly useful tool is another added value benefit that complements the Searches UK portfolio.... Simply visit www.searchesuk.co.uk/ apportionment-calculator and enter the yearly maintenance and ground rent, followed by the completion date which will
automatically generate the year end date. Finally click the ‘Calculate’ button and the sums you require will appear – it couldn’t be easier. Sales & Marketing Director, Lisa Summerton commented: “This incredibly useful tool is another added value benefit that complements the Searches UK portfolio. We continue to search the market for pragmatic solutions, market leading products and useful services to ensure our clients are getting the most out of our service. We are always open to new ways we can improve the working day of our clients and the apportionment calculator is another excellent example of this.”
Continue to visit the Searches UK website and engage with us on social media to keep up to date with new and exciting product developments.
GOING DIGITAL Tim Hubbard, Regional Director at Altodigital on the benefits of embracing a digital-based office The promise of the paperless legal business has been around for a long time. But now it’s possible to gain a significant distance towards it, and to chop print and document production costs inside firms. The world is going digital – and here’s why law firms should follow. Removing paper from a firm starts with changing behaviour; such as reducing paper waste, then thinking about the way existing documents are stored. After that, workflows work in a more digital way, and a firm can benefit from great operational savings. Tim Hubbard, Regional Director at Altodigital says: “Sometimes smaller firms just neglect their copying and printing usage, you get many printers on desks, people printing documents again because of one mistake rather than printing a single page.” One thing Altodigital does is audit firms, looking at how many people buy printing supplies, who prints too often and so on.
4|
ConveyancingFOCUS
Two of Altodigital’s flagship clients, Higgs & Sons and Knights Solicitors, have saved between 30-40% on the overall cost of printing and copying documents. This happened because of the company’s work towards becoming more digitally minded, using managed print services and reducing and centralising print and document production.
..Going digital with documents requires a change in behaviour..... Going digital with documents requires a change in behaviour. Changing to new printing systems internally, while shifting as much printing to the client by moving documents digitally, is something that can make a dramatic reduction in costs for firms. Altodigital are the people who work this all out for you, in addition to auditing problem areas in the firm. For a legal business going it alone, firms
have to start from scratch, Tim Hubbard explains. “At Knights, we took away desktop printers and old photocopiers and replaced them with 17 dedicated models. Due to there being less machines on desks, staff weren’t ordering 30 toner cartridges at £100 a time.” Once the ‘print culture’ has improved, the shift to digital can follow, and this is where the big future benefits lie. People are changing the way they work, and paper workflows can become digital workflows to match. Tim Hubbard comments: “The day of the standalone photocopier and the desktop printer, are fading – and being replaced by machines that can email, fax, print and scan documents into a document management or archive system. You can even scan documents directly to court copy. Legal firms need to catch up to a future that’s already here”. For further information about how to save costs on printing call 01384 282090 or visit www.altodigital.com.
ConveyancingFOCUS: Industry News
MANAGING LEGAL RECORDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY Julia Thompson, Customer Experience Manager at Recall UK explains the benefits of a paper-light office
Many legal firms will use the services of an Information Management company to store their documents off-site. In the UK, Recall store around 10 million boxes of documents but in the 21st century Information Management companies need to provide more than just a shelf to store your box of documents on. With ever increasing regulatory and compliance requirements, our customers expect state of the art security, fire protection and the tools they need to manage their information. The core of our business is storing documents but the methods of storage certainly aren’t restricted to boxes on shelves. We have customers from the legal industry who require that we store their information in a variety of methods depending on the nature of the documents or their activity. Less active or legacy files will be stored in archive boxes; highly active files will be stored directly in purpose built racking to allow rapid retrieval; when the physical document isn’t required we’ll deliver a scanned version; and finally files such as deeds and wills can be stored in high security temperature controlled vaults.
In recent years there has been a shift in Information Management as organisations start to understand the importance of Information Governance (IG). IG is a relatively new phrase although many of the principles related to Information Governance have existed
.. The core of our business is storing documents but the methods of storage certainly aren’t restricted to boxes on shelves..... before the phrase came into use. It’s now not enough to securely store your documents; the focus is on where the information originated, who is using the information, who has access to the information, why the creator has classified
the information in the manner they have chosen and what policies relate to that information. In response to the needs of our customers we have spent the last two years developing solutions to assist them in managing their records, staying compliant and enforcing their own Information Governance rules and policies. We’ve also seen a gradual move toward workflow solutions. The idea of the paperless office is a pipe dream very few organisations achieve but the paper-light office is a reality that we now actively assist our customers with. Paper will probably always exist in the legal industry but the movement toward the digitisation of information is gathering momentum and Information Management companies such as Recall need to respond to ensure they can provide more than just a shelf to store your documents on. For more information on Recall and how we can assist in the storage, management and compliance of your information contact us on 08456 732255 or visit www.recall.co.uk.
ACCESS OUR SERVICES ON THE MOVE Searches UK’s mobile App keeps you updated wherever you are Solicitors and conveyancers are busy people with 101 things to achieve each day. Searches UK understand the stresses and strain on our clients so we built a mobile app for solicitors and conveyancers to easily browse our products and services, familiarise themselves with our team, keep up to date with events and request search quotes everywhere and anywhere. The nifty App can be downloaded for free from the Apple and Android App store so within minutes you can have easy access to this great resource. Our Conveyancing FOCUS magazine and latest news can also be accessed on the move, keeping
you up to date with the latest property news at your fingertips. Lisa Summerton, Sales & Marketing Director commented: “We have our clients best interests at heart and realise that our clients are extremely busy. Our aim is to make their lives as easy as possible and our mobile app does just that. At any time during the day our clients can access useful and informative information as well as contact us directly through the App. Searches UK continue to explore the market to bring the newest products and services to our clients in conjunction with a great service that we will tailor to each firm.”
.. Searches UK continue to explore the market to bring the newest products and services to our clients..... Further details about our App can be found on the Searches UK website at www.searchesuk.co.uk, alternatively download this fantastic tool from the Apple or Android App store today.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
|5
ConveyancingFOCUS: The Interview
THE BERRY METHOD National Treasure and original Domestic Goddess, Mary Berry, talks about The Great British Bake Off and her book Absolute Favourites. We look at the businesswoman behind the baking
If Nigella Lawson is the kitchen goddess, then Mary Berry is the Dame of the bake. She entered her ninth decade this March, and ever since discovering a talent for cookery during domestic science lessons at school - “The first thing I made was a treacle sponge and everybody seemed to enjoy it,” she says modestly – she has flourished in the industry, finding time to publish some 70 cook books. Now 80 years old, Berry’s life story crams almost more than the years allow. She’s suffered Polio in an isolation ward aged 13, studied the art of food in France, and enjoyed her first taste of culinary success at 22, creating cheese recipes for the Dutch Dairy Bureau. She’s trundled up and down the country presenting Agas, worked as the food editor of magazines, and notched up serious time in front of the camera. The BBC’s Great British Bake Off introduced her to a whole new audience, and her firm-butfair personality has kept her on the nation’s radar ever since. When she’s not filming, Berry doesn’t simply
6|
ConveyancingFOCUS
relax. She’s often at BBC Good Food Shows, demonstrating her recipes alongside Bake Off co-judge, Paul Hollywood. “It’s lovely to share our recipes live with the audience and the BBC Good Food Shows are great for people who are out for a day out. They want
The BBC’s Great British Bake Off introduced her to a whole new audience, and her firm-but-fair personality has kept her on the nation’s radar ever since a treat and we want to share our recipes with them, we talk to the audiences and for us it’s great – on television you can’t see people, but of course we bring the audience
in and they’re there in great numbers.” She still produces books: her latest tome, Absolute Favourites, shot to the top of the bestsellers chart upon release in March. Berry says, “it’s a book I’ve been wanting to do for a while. It’s like a greatest hits of my favourite dishes and bakes, and what I love about it is we can all produce one of these, and the contents are different for everyone. Why not give it a try?!” Berry takes pleasure in her foodie demonstrations and isn’t shy of hard graft. A working mother in the 70s, at a time when many other mothers were staying at home, she credits her impressive career with organisation. “I always found that getting up really early helps, and lots of lists. I had lots of good friends to help me with the children, but it was a difficult time,” she admits. Berry believes later life can be filled with exciting possibilities. She’d recommend those contemplating retirement, who may be worried they’ll lose their sense of purpose, to take the decision very seriously.
ConveyancingFOCUS: The Interview
“If you just sit back you will have a very unhappy time. You’ve got to take up a sport, help with a charity and plan your retirement, definitely,” she maintains. Having achieved so much, Berry would encourage anyone to follow their dream, adding that retirement may even give you more time to pursue it. “But you’ve certainly got to keep active,” she warns, “and the best form of keeping active is walking. If you possibly can, get out there in the fresh air, go and help people, be part of your village or your area, look after your neighbours. But don’t just watch television!” Born in 1935, Berry grew up in the war
years when rations were tight, and she now likes to be a little indulgent. She can’t share a ‘slimming secret’, she insists, but instead relies on the timeless advice of “everything in moderation.” “If I’ve eaten lots and lots of cakes the day before - because I love tasting them - the next day I’m fairly frugal and sensible and it’s salads and soups,” she explains. And despite her relatively newfound celebrity status, Berry still enjoys growing and eating vegetables from her own garden. “We grow what we eat so if I were making a quiche I’d put leeks in and perhaps some lamb’s cress, if I’m making casserole we’ll use our own carrots. It’s a matter of using
things that we’ve got.” After all, The Bake Off may pride itself on exotic, delicate and expertly crafted bakes, but when it comes to main dishes, Berry truly values initiative in the kitchen. “Someone who is a good cook will go into the fridge and say, ‘ah, there are a few potatoes, some carrots, I’ve got a pint of milk and some sausages.’ They’ll make a lovely vegetable bake and serve it with sausages. It’s using what you’ve got and spreading things out. A good cook is able to gather the ingredients that are around her and use them wisely.” Throughout her career, Berry has taken that mantra above and beyond. Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites Hardcover is published by BBC books, RRP £25.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
|7
ConveyancingFOCUS: £100 Selfie
THE #ConveyancingFOCUS £100 SELFIE… The release of this summer’s ConveyancingFOCUS welcomed a surge of selfies as we asked you to send us your snaps for the chance to win a £100 cash donation to a charity of your choice. Here’s a look at the campaign in more detail…... The summer’s edition of Conveyancing -FOCUS welcomed a surge of selfies from readers across the country after Searches UK announced the launch of the ConveyancingFOCUS Selfie Competition. With the promise of a £100 donation going to a charity of the winner’s choice, readers enthusiastically submitted pictures of themselves, and even their dogs, with the third installment of the magazine on social media, using #ConveyancingFOCUS. Searches UK were overwhelmed by the response to the campaign and were delighted to see that so many readers had indulged the urge to take a selfie in the name of a good cause. Current and prospective clients of Searches UK, as well as committed associates and loyal readers of ConveyancingFOCUS took photos of themselves working hard in the office, enjoying ice creams, lounging in their gardens and with their dogs. Competition winner, Clare Osborne from PDT Solicitors, chose to donate the £100 prize to the World Cetacean Alliance. The charity supports marine conservation and sea life in captivity, a cause that Clare is
extremely passionate about. Clare Osborn of PDT Solicitors commented: “I volunteer for a CIO (charitable incorporated organisation) called WhaleFest that supports a charity called the World Cetacean Alliance who do a lot for the plight of whales and dolphins in captivity
....Raising awareness of this unique charity was a great benefit of the competition.... and marine conservation (something very close to my heart). World Cetacean Alliance are working in partnership with WhaleFest for the next year to raise awareness about ghost fishing gear and entanglement of marine animals.” Raising awareness of this unique charity was a great benefit of the competition and Searches UK were thrilled to donate money to a cause that was special to one of our readers.
Lisa Summerton, Sales and Marketing Director at Searches UK said: “The response to the campaign was fantastic, the amount of people getting involved was great to see and knowing that a charity would benefit from the competition made it more exciting for everyone. We were overwhelmed with the amount of selfies and had a great time selecting a winner from the entrants! A huge congratulations to Clare Osborn for winning the competition, Searches UK are happy to support a charity so close to Clare’s heart. We would also like to thank everyone that got involved with this campaign, and we look forward to the release of the autumn edition of ConveyancingFOCUS.” For more information about this competition, the products and services provided by Searches UK or how you can get involved with the next edition of ConveyancingFOCUS visit www. searchesuk.co.uk or contact 0800 043 1815 to speak directly to a member of the Searches UK team.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
|9
1951
1955
Fig.1
Historical Mapping: Enhancing Risk Assessment At Groundsure, we pride ourselves on the accuracy and quality of our maps. Our unique Historical Land Use Database has been compiled in-house and includes over 27,000 individual potentially contaminative land use features dating back to the 1840s. It’s the most comprehensive dataset of its kind with maps scanned in at over 500dpi providing the most detailed site history for an accurate risk assessment. Why are historical maps important for risk assessment? Groundsure’s in-house Environmental Consultants make extensive use of the historical maps throughout their risk assessment process on both residential and commercial reports. It’s essential to know about the site’s history and previous industrial uses which could have left a legacy of contamination in the ground.
This is especially important for an area that is earmarked for development. A crucial part of this process is to understand the history of a site, as this can indicate if any further investigation may be required in order to make the site suitable for its intended use. Detailed historical maps provide a fantastic insight into the site over a period of time and can identify potential environmental liabilities a site may have. The level of detail of our maps is important and the primary reason why we scan all of ours in at over 500dpi from paper archives. As they say, the devil is in the detail. A low detailed (small scale 1:10,000, 1:10,560) map is unable to provide as much information on specific land uses as a high detailed (large scale 1:2,500, 1:1,250) scale map. This is demonstrated above on Fig. 1 As the maps show, whilst only surveyed four years apart the detail is much clearer with specific land uses identified. This clarity of land use labels could be the difference between a Passed and In Need of Further Assessment report.
Another point to consider is that existing buildings and residential dwellings have been developed on contaminated land. This is an issue that we more frequently find with residential developments that could have been built 30 – 50 years ago, which years later show signs of contamination, high profile cases such as Blanefield Print Works being a prime example. We always recommend that an environmental search is undertaken ahead of purchase. Not only is it essential due diligence in line with the Law Society Practice Note, but can save your client a lot of hassle and money. If your client has purchased the land or property and it is later found to have contamination, the new owner could be liable for the remediation costs if the original polluter can’t be found. If you have any queries on contaminated land or the data held within environmental reports, please do get in touch.
1851
This example shows a residential dwelling that was built on top of a former bleach works
LOCATION INTELLIGENCE To access Groundsure’s market leading environmental solutions, please call 08444 159 000 or email info@groundsure.com WWW.GROUNDSURE.COM
2014
ConveyancingFOCUS: Bespoke Packages
GET MORE FROM YOUR SEARCH PROVIDER Searches UK will select and provide a bespoke package of services to suit your individual business requirements At Searches UK we value you, our clients, and take time to understand your conveyancing search needs. As market leaders in England and Wales, we pride ourselves on offering an extensive range of products and services that we can tailor to your individual needs. With this in mind, we produce searches to your required time frames, find packages that work for you and are open to discuss cases and enquiries in detail to help optimise our services as your search provider. Our dedicated team of experts produce accurate, up-to-date reports in addition to using their extensive local knowledge of the property market. We operate with your needs in mind to provide a flexible service, allowing you to ‘pick & mix’ the perfect range of products and services for your firm. A selection of our products are below as well as some of our added value benefits – you’re free to choose the best ones for your firms. Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Searches • Council & Regulated Local Authority Searches • Council & Regulated Drainage & Water Searches • Environmental Searches • Transport Searches • Flood Searches • Chancel Searches • Mining Searches • Planning Searches • Utility Searches and many more… Lawyer Checker Lawyer Checker allows Conveyancers to check the previous use of client accounts to which they are sending funds, ensuring you adequately protect your client’s money and helping them to combat the increasing risk of vendor conveyancer fraud.
Our range of added value benefits includes: Buyer Protect Reimbursement Scheme We understand the stresses associated with buying a property or moving home, and recognise the expensive capital outlay for homebuyers. With an estimated 1 in 3 property transactions failing to complete, we now offer all clients processing search orders through us access to our exclusive and unique Buyer Protect Reimbursement Scheme. When this product is added to an order, should the property transaction fall through, the homebuyer could be reimbursed valuation fees, non-refundable arrangement fees, broker fees, solicitor’s fees & disbursement costs*, up to a total value of £2,050.
....Searches UK understand that each client has a unique set of needs and requirements....
Account Plus Account Plus provides law firms with membership to the 360 Legal Group scheme, funded by Searches UK. This is a fantastic program which offers a variety of benefits to clients in dealing with the management of their firm and providing effective tools to improve the way your business is run, including helplines, strategic, corporate structure, compliance, tax and cost reduction reviews and access to CPD seminars and annual forums.*
CPD Courses and Webinars Searches UK firmly believe in providing insightful and informative training sessions - we have teamed up with a number of industry experts, including Groundsure, Landmark, Legal Eye, DevAssist, St Giles, Lexsure and many more to ensure we are able to keep our clients up to date and informed. Risk and Compliance Services We actively embrace the culture which is fast becoming a requirement for any strong business to adhere to and offer all our client support in this area as well as access to material to help improve their risk and compliance practices and processes. Lead Generation We are known for helping our clients increase conveyancing business and one of the ways we do this is by providing them with high quality conveyancing leads and instructions. We can provide both National and Area Specific leads in numbers to suit your Conveyancing Department’s needs and dependent on the volume of searches being placed with Searches UK.* Quick Quote Quick Quote is a platform designed to help grow conveyancing volumes, improve customer delivery and save time and money. It enables you to connect with agents, intermediaries and clients to enhance your customer service and secure more business.* Shape the service provided by Searches UK and contact one of our dedicated team on 0800 043 1815 or visit our website at www.searchesuk.co.uk for further information about the products and services on offer to you. *Terms & Conditions Apply.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 11
With over 580 Air Quality Management Areas in the UK already, will your planning application be affected? SITESOLUTIONS Air Quality Section 1: Air Quality Management Areas
IDENTIFIED
The site is located in an Air Quality Management Area, which indicates that the Local Authority has identified specific air quality issues within the vicinity of the site. This may have an impact on future planning and development at the site. Please refer to the Recommendations page and Section 1 for further information.
Section 2: Air Quality Monitoring Stations
NONE IDENTIFIED
We have not identified any non-compliant air quality being monitored within 500 metres of the site. Please refer to Section 2 and the Useful Information pages if you require further details.
Section 3: Local Emission Sources
This report is issued for the property described as 2
Report Reference
66892737_1_1
National Grid Reference 314960 177460 Customer Reference Report Date 4 August 2015
NONE IDENTIFIED
There are no known local emission sources reporting relevant pollutants at or above the national average, within 500 metres of the site. Please refer to Section 3 and the Useful Information pages if you require further details
Section 4: Predicted Air Quality Issues
IDENTIFIED
The air quality within 500 metres of the site is predicted to be non-compliant with the National Air Quality Objectives in the current year, 2020 and 2030. Please refer to the Recommendations page and Section 4 for further information.
The responsible authorities for the site are: Cardiff Council
CONTACT DETAILS -------------------------------------------If you require assistance please contact our customer services team on:
0844 844 9966 -------------------------------------------or by email at:
helpdesk@landmark.co.uk
Argyll Environmental has introduced the SiteSolutions Air Quality report to provide valuable insight for commercial property transactions, planning applications and due diligence for site and property developments, and redevelopments. The report provides property investors, developers, legal conveyancers and other property and land professionals with details on any potential air quality issues that may affect the location in question both today and in the future.
If you would like to know more about Landmark’s Air Quality screening report, please contact our customer services team:
0844 844 9966 or by email at:
helpdesk@landmark.co.uk
It’s an early warning of any current or future atmospheric pollution issues that have the potential to impact the value of the property or result in planning restrictions or constraints. ©2015 Landmark information Group Ltd
ConveyancingFOCUS: Landmark
AIR QUALITY Local Air Quality Management legislation now requires Local Authorities to factor air quality into any commercial planning or re-development application
Where pollutants exceed national objectives, authorities must designate an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ AQMA
Developers, property investors and those concerned with commercial planning applications and property transactions will now need to pay far closer attention to the topic of air quality. This comes as the Government works on a major new strategy to tackle the UK’s air pollution following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that it was in breach of air quality regulations, and clearly has implications for commercial conveyancing due diligence. Under the ‘Local Air Quality Management’ legislation Local Authorities now have a responsibility to factor air quality into any commercial planning or re-development application, potentially adding extra costs, complexity or delays to a project. What is an AQMA? Since December 1997, every Local Authority has been required to monitor its air quality. This is not only to protect citizens’ health and the environment but to ensure that the National Air Quality Objectives will be achieved across the UK within the relevant deadlines. Where pollutants exceed national objectives, authorities must designate an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ AQMA. This could be just one or two streets, or it could be much bigger and, once designated, must be supported with an action plan to improve the air quality. There are currently over 580 individual AQMAs already allocated in Great Britain, spread across 239 Local Authorities and
covering a total area of 3,600km2, which highlights the growing need to improve air quality across the UK. The Impact of Air Quality on Planning Applications Organisations planning to redevelop sites located within 500 metres of an AQMA should be aware that failure to follow Local Authority guidelines in relation to air quality could greatly impact the progress of their proposals. It may be necessary to adjust proposals to meet the Local Authority’s Air Quality Plan to ensure the health and wellbeing of residents and to avoid adding any further pollutants into the area. It is also likely that the Local Planning Authority (LPA) may stipulate an air quality assessment to be submitted as part of the planning application with possible design requirements for mitigation. Predictive data gives insight into air quality concentrations and any likely changes and will be used to assist with policy and decision making. How to access Air Quality data All of the data needed to adhere to Local Authority air quality planning processes can now be accessed in the form of the SiteSolutions Air Quality Report from Argyll Environmental, which can be ordered from Searches UK. The report provides valuable insight into any potential air quality issues affecting a chosen site, both now and in the future, and is ideal for those dealing
with commercial property transactions, planning applications and due diligence for site and property developments, and redevelopments. The report provides an early warning of any current or future atmospheric pollution issues that have the potential to impact the value of the property or result in planning restrictions or constraints and includes, Air Quality Management Areas, Air Quality Monitoring Stations, Local Emissions Sources and Predicted Air Quality Issues.
To order this informative product contact Searches UK today on 0800 043 1815, alternatively contact Landmark on 0844 844 9966 for more information.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 13
CAREER LADDER Faye Stenning, Risk & Compliance Manager at Searches UK, tells us about her career journey
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE SEARCH INDUSTRY? My husband and Searches UK’s Managing Director, Andrew, set up Searches UK in 2008 and whilst I wasn’t directly involved in the business at that time, we did spend many an evening working together when the business was in its infancy. I officially joined Searches UK in 2011 after having been a Practice Manager at a local law firm and having successfully secured the Lexcel standard for them. AS THE RISK & COMPLIANCE MANAGER, WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND HATE ABOUT YOUR JOB? There aren’t many people who can honestly say that they enjoy dealing with the risk and compliance obligations of a business, but I genuinely do. I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that we’re working from a very strong and robust platform and being recognised, for example by achieving such standards as the Legal Eye Quality Standard, is very rewarding. WHAT IS YOUR WORKING MOTTO? Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can achieve today. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? As a teenager, I worked in a shoe shop for a while and also as a silver service waitress, but my first “real” job was as a Legal PA. I was lucky enough to work for one of
14 |
ConveyancingFOCUS
the country’s leading franchise solicitor – he was very high profile and demanded first rate support from his team; it’s safe to say I learned a great deal from him, especially in terms of organisation and time management.
Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can achieve today
HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN YOUR ROLE? Without strong organisational skills I could not have achieved what I have. Managing risks and ensuring we are compliant in our business is something that needs constant review and, as anyone of us could be indisposed at any given time, my work needs to be managed in a way that would be easy enough for someone to pick up and take over from me at short notice if ever required.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU? The word “typical” doesn’t really relate to my working day as different challenges can present themselves without any warning, which is one of the reasons I love my job so much – no two days are ever the same! WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR SEARCHES UK? Without doubt, the people we have here are the backbone of the business and working alongside them is an absolute pleasure. DO YOU THINK NETWORKING IS IMPORTANT? Yes most definitely. Networking is not about selling, it’s about building and strengthening relationships. It offers us more of an insight into the needs and requirements of our clients, enabling us to offer them a better service all-round, which is what we’re all about at the end of the day. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? My Plan A was to be an anthropologist; somehow I managed to work on my Plan B first, which was to work in the legal arena in some way or another, so my Plan A never got off the ground. Maybe one day … If you require assistance with any of your risk and compliance obligations please contact me on faye@searchesuk.co.uk or call: 01273 229333
ConveyancingFOCUS: Meet The Team
MEET THE TEAM Searches UK: Introducing some of our friendly and professional team of industry experts
Joel Swann Business Development Manager Joel comes from a search provider background and is committed to developing relationships with existing and prospective clients. As our Business Development Manager he is responsible for creating new business opportunities with Solicitor and Conveyancing firms. He is always keen to meet clients face to face and wants to work with them to find the best products and services for their needs. Joel will regularly be seen at industry events and is happy to meet with clients at their firm so they don’t have to leave the comfort of their office. 07802 722 694 joel@searchesuk.co.uk
Kayleigh Mitchell Accounts Assistant Kayleigh is our Accounts Assistant and monitors the assets moving in and out of the business. As a valued member of the team she also has experience in the Orders and Enquiries team so is able to help clients with the majority of queries. Her previous experience includes working in customer facing roles so she is comfortable supporting clients and her team; she will offer to help whenever she can. 01273 229 332 kayleigh@searchesuk.co.uk
Natalie Mitchell Conveyancing Search Specialist Natalie started her career in administration and her experience in a customer facing role gives her valuable skills which transfer to her role in the Orders team. She has worked for American Express dealing with client accounts and managing private and confidential information. Working in the orders team Natalie ensures searches are processed in a timely manner and will no doubt be in touch to help you with any queries. 01273 764 922 nataliem@searchesuk.co.uk
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 15
ConveyancingFOCUS: Modern Law Conveyancing Conference
TACKLING THE REAL ISSUES The first annual Modern Law Conveyancing Conference in partnership with the Conveyancing Association takes place on 3rd December 2015, at Chelsea F.C., London. Conference Chairman, Eddie Goldsmith, introduces the event
These are exciting times for conveyancers – the property market has been recovering from the depths of the doldrums of the recession and whilst it has not yet recovered to the dizzy heights pre-2007, we are all now enjoying more work, but in an environment where many conveyancers who left the market post-2007 have not returned. Too much work with not enough staff is of course preferable to the contrary but it is still a challenge which needs to be addressed. We are also now facing different challenges to then. Clients’ expectations have continued to build and whilst we are all getting better at managing those expectations, this is in an environment where lenders continue to look at streamlining their panels and processes - long gone are the days when panel membership was a forgone conclusion. Professional Indemnity insurers are similarly keen to understand the culture and processes of their insured, whilst regulators continue to be concerned about transparency and how clients’ best interests are being served. A market of opportunities Add into the mix the ever-growing threat of cyber-crime, which could bring down an innocent firm or at least ruin its reputation
16 |
ConveyancingFOCUS
for a decade, and we have a toxic mix, which on the one hand presents opportunities, whilst on the other could sound the death knell of a practice. The Conveyancing Association, whose members number amongst the very best resourced of conveyancers in the Country, is keen to help the industry understand the issues and provide practical assistance and guidance – our inaugural conference aims to do just that.
We have assembled a wealth of expertise to offer you real practical help and guidance. The Conveyancing Association are delighted to be holding its inaugural conference in association with Modern Law. Delegates at this conference will walk away better informed about the challenges that need to be recognised and tackled, to prosper in the changed environment of today’s property market. Being better informed is the first stage to being better prepared to take advantage and to live long and prosper!
We have assembled a wealth of expertise to offer you real practical help and guidance
Eddie Goldsmith is Founding Partner at Goldsmith Williams and Chairman of the Conveyancing Association. Eddie will Chair the Modern Law Conveyancing Conference on 3rd December. Modern Law would like to thanks Future Climate Info for headlining this event, and all sponsors for their support.
Practical help and guidance Over the day, delegates will hear from eminent speakers across a range of topics of relevant interest to conveyancers. Following the Keynote Speech by Jonathan Smithers, President of the Law Society and himself a conveyancer by trade, delegates will hear from their regulators, lenders, insurers and experts across the industry.
Website: www.mlconveyancingevents.co.uk Ticket prices: Conveyancing Association Members £65 | Non-members £85 For bookings visit: www.mlconveyancingevents.co.uk
ConveyancingFOCUS: Checkaprofessional
CLIENTS DEMAND TRANSPARENCY As the race to re-mortgage is on, are you displaying up to date information? The Council of Mortgage Lenders recently reported an increase in householders searching for mortgage deals. During June 31,600 changed their mortgage deals, a 30% increase from the figure reported in May being 24,300. It is now a more realistic prospect that a rate rise is on the horizon, being forecast for later this year or possibly the beginning of 2016. This has driven a desire for homeowners to lock into a competitively priced fixed deal prior to the rate rises, as previous experiences of high rates are fresh in the minds of those who suffered. Since the last housing boom, the lending market has changed significantly and many are left with scars from this. Now those searching for loans are often frustrated by the amount of time and hurdles they are having to jump over to secure a roof over their heads. Many, aware of being bitten previously, are twice shy, so trust and confidence, along with respect is an issue,
not just for those whom they are looking to lend from, but all parties involved in the financial, buying and selling process. Given what has been experienced in the past, we are now witnessing horror stories emerging daily, with fake solicitors, previous tales of rate fixing and deals being made under the table, like everything else, prospective clients are demanding transparency. Those who are proactive in business and understand that times have changed, offering clients a tool to obtain the reassurance they need, will reap the rewards from clients who warm to their openness and value their need to learn more about the service they provide, the quality and transparency they wish to share. Verified testimonials will not only show clients your reputation, practising history and quality of service you provide, but also help with the customer surveys required for compliance needs.
It is now a more realistic prospect that a rate rise is on the horizon, being forecast for later this year or possibly the beginning of 2016 We help prospective clients make a more informed choice in QUALITY - NOT PRICES! Visit www.Checkaprofessional.com or call and have an informative chat on: 0800 093 8414
VERIFIED FEEDBACK assisting your COMPLIANCE AND MARKETING NEEDS! Brought to you courtesy of our sister company
62% of British consumers say they are likely to be affected by positive online reviews, especially if independently verified and reviewed before publishing. Checkaprofessional.com provides clients with the tools to make an 'informed choice' in Legal Services. The site is free for those searching and there is no need to register, which means NO BARRIERS for prospective clients. Obtaining feedback from clients who have used your services, will not only reassure prospective clients, but it will also provide the client satisfaction surveys required for compliance purposes.
ESTATE AGENTS MORTGAGE BROKERS LEGAL SERVICES OPTICIANS
ΔΔ ΔΔ
SOLICITORS COSMETIC SURGEON SURVEYORS HAIR & BEAUTY
ΔΔ ΔΔ
ACCOUNTANTS THERAPISTS DENTAL VET’S
ΔΔ ΔΔ
IFA’S IT
ΔΔ
0800 093 8414 www.checkaprofessional.com
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 17
T: (0) 20 7147 9940 | F: (0) 330 133 0903 E: Info@StaxUK.com
| www.STaxUK.com/solicitors.html
The new capital allowance rules are a time bomb for conveyancers. Many don’t even know the
Clock isTicking! Act Soon to Avoid Disaster! Recent changes mean that capital allowances must be addressed correctly during a conveyance of a commercial or multi-unit residential property. To ignore this area could mean the loss of all entitlement to allowances, devaluing the property from day one or even an unexpected bill from HMRC, and of course a client looking for someone to blame. As specialist real estate tax advisors we can be your expert tax department, not only protecting your clients’ interests but those of your firm as well.
Contact us today to find out how we can assist you and your clients. T: (0) 20 7147 9940 | www.STaxUK.com | E: info@STaxUK.com
24 Greville Street London, EC1N 8SS 7 Queen Square Brighton, BN1 3FD
ConveyancingFOCUS: STax
A firm grasp of all of the legislation affecting this area is required to be able to avoid the pitfalls and deliver the best possible outcome to your clients
TAXING MATTERS Andrew Stanley, Managing Director, STax, on capital allowance changes affecting the commercial sector the plumbing, electrics, security system and fire alarms to name a few. In even the smallest of freehold transactions you can be talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds of tax relief.
Conveyancers of commercial property need to be aware of the massive shake up in the capital allowance rules or run the risk of a serious slip up. The Finance Act 2012 brought in sweeping changes to how capital allowances are dealt with during a sale. Many solicitors are not aware that they may have a duty of care to provide for this area as it is an intrinsic component of a commercial conveyance. Being a tax matter is immaterial (if you disagree see Clarke v Iliffes Booth Bennett [2004]). We would envisage that if put to the test the conveyancer’s duty of care is likely to extend to capital allowances for a commercial property and even possibly multi-unit residential as well. There has been very little press coverage of the new system leading to many engaged in commercial conveyancing having not had the full impact of these changes communicated to them. This suits the Treasury’s purposes as noncompliance means a complete loss for both buyer and seller and a net gain to the Exchequer. To rewind a little, capital allowances are a form of tax relief given on qualifying items of plant and machinery. This extends to many fixtures in a commercial building (and some multi-unit residential ones) like
So what are the changes [CAA2001 s187A & s187B]? Broadly the changes enforce the correct handling of the transference of allowances. It is formed of two core components: 1.) Fixed Value requirement - Since April 2012 From April 2012 if a transfer value (disposal and acquisition) is not fixed for fixtures that the vendor has claimed, by a s198 election (or decision at tribunal), then the qualifying expenditure for the purchaser will be set to NIL on these items. This is binding on all future owners, which will not only lose the buyer all right to claim allowances on their expenditure but almost certainly devalue the property overnight. Furthermore, HMRC are within their rights to impose a disposal value (generally market value at sale in most cases) against the vendor’s pool. This would effectively claw back previously given allowances, leading to a potential tax charge on the vendor and of course a permanent mismatch in the Treasury’s favour.
works in conjunction with the Fixed Value requirement detailed above. So with both in operation anything not quantified, claimed and then transferred in a 100% correct manner will be lost forever! A firm grasp of all of the legislation affecting this area is required to be able to avoid the pitfalls and deliver the best possible outcome to your clients. So if you are involved in commercial and/or larger residential conveyancing you should take action now to protect your clients’ and your firm’s interests. This can be done by either getting fully up to speed with this area or alternatively arranging for a specialist, like us at STax, to provide expert advice on relevant transactions. STax are industry leading real estate tax advisers. Combining qualified tax advisors, accountants and quantity surveyors makes STax perfectly positioned to advise on this and any other real estate related tax matter. For further information about these changes contact STax on 0207 147 9940 or alternatively contact Searches UK at info@searchesuk.co.uk or visit our CPD page at www.searchesuk.co.uk for forthcoming CPD events with Andrew Stanley (MD of STax).
Andrew Stanley, Managing director: STax www.STaxUK.com | info@staxuk.com TEL: (0207)1479940
2.) Mandatory pooling - Since April 2014 In April 2014 pooling (assessing, valuing and claiming) of allowances prior to sale by the vendor became mandatory. This
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 19
ConveyancingFOCUS: Ordering Platform
INTELLEGENT ORDERING SOFTWARE Searches UK’s sophisticated online ordering platform ensures client’s search reports are processed by qualified professionals at a few clicks of a button Property transactions can be a complex and timely process with the involvement of various agents, intermediaries, chains and clients. With Searches UK’s sophisticated online ordering platform solicitors and conveyancers can rest assured in the knowledge that their client’s search reports are being processed by qualified professionals at just a few clicks of a button. In the conveyancing industry Searches UK are renowned for the products and services they offer, alongside their dedication to outstanding service. Embracing market changes has always been a strength of Searches UK and our ordering platform is no exception to this rule. The straightforward platform is easy to use with all users being issued their own login details to access their account. Secretaries and PAs can also order on your behalf with access to your account using their own login details. Our intuitive platform recommends additional reports that may be required, boundary mapping is simplified, and free, so you can easily determine the size of the property in question, aesthetically the system looks contemporary and slick, not
20 |
ConveyancingFOCUS
to mention the handy function to “favorite” products and packs which will help to simplify the ordering process and save you time.
Our intuitive platform recommends additional reports that may be required. For an insightful demonstration of our online ordering platform, with a dedicated member of our team, call 0800 043 1815 to arrange this at a time that is most convenient for you. This can be conducted remotely over the phone and via a live screen sharing program so any questions you may have can be answered. Lisa Summerton, Sales & Marketing Director at Searches UK said: “We have a committed member of the team who is happy to walk our clients
through the system to show them the full functionality of the platform as well as answer any questions they may have. The platform is simple to use and users can easily search for previous cases using the first line of the address, postcode or order number.” Automatic notification emails are also sent once an order has been placed as well as when the searches are complete to ensure users are kept updated. Furthermore invoices are automatically generated at the time an order is placed. As we have full control over the functionality of our system, we can amend the email alerts, notifications and invoices and arrange for them to be redirected to multiple other email addresses, including or instead of the user who placed the order, if that is preferred. Users can log back onto the system at any time to track the progress of their order, add new searches or download additional copies of searches or invoices, if required. Contact Searches UK on 0800 043 1815 or visit www.searchesuk.co.uk to find out more about this system and place an order today using our intuitive online software.
ConveyancingFOCUS: What we’ve been up to
A GREAT SCHEME HAS HATCHED Searches UK will donate chickens to charity with the help of their clients Throughout October, November & December Searches UK will donate chickens to families in Africa on behalf of every client that processes an order with us. Clients can help contribute at least 3 chickens when they order their searches in each of these months. Our contribution to charity will massively enhance the lives of families who desperately need our help, and our gifts will enable families to earn an additional income as well as provide a sustainable food source for their loved ones. Michaela Mocilanova, Office Manager, at Searches UK, commented: “It is with great enthusiasm that we launch this life changing scheme in October which runs until the end of the year. Every client who places an order in each of these months can help families build a better life for themselves, and this small contribution to each family will make a huge difference to their lives. Searches UK contribute to charities throughout the year, however in this instance our clients will have control over how much we donate.” With natural disasters, failed crops, food price hikes and limited job opportunities taking their toll on countries in Africa, together we can take a positive step to improve the standards of people’s lives in countries such as Zambia, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Uganda and Kenya. Searches UK are passionate about supporting the world in which we operate and make regular donations to charities locally and nationally within the UK as well as worthwhile projects across the globe.
Did you ‘Spot The Difference’ on page 8? Sid reveals the answer below.
Contact us today on 0800 043 1815 to find out more about this scheme or visit www.searchesuk.co.uk to place an order. Details about our full range of products and services can also be found on our website.
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE LFS Conveyancing Conference and Awards recognise excellence in the conveyancing industry This year marked the 7th birthday of the prestigious LFS Conveyancing Conference and Awards Ceremony, held on 17th September at the Milton Keynes Football Stadium. The event drew solicitors and conveyancers from across the country to visit the main conference, which gained delegates 5 CPD points, followed by the Awards Ceremony where industry professionals were recognised and praised for excellence in their field. At the conference, guest presenters included Nick Drake-Knight who is an authority on customer service processes. Nick’s highly interactive, energetic and
passionate talk touched on his experience thus far on becoming somewhat of an expert in the customer services field as well as providing informative advice on how to implement key strategies to improve customer service to clients. Other speakers included D.C. David Knowles and D.S. Gavin Burton on preventing fraud in law firms. Andrew Stenning, Managing Director of Searches UK said: “It was a great pleasure to work alongside the team at Law Firm Services who continue to recognise and acknowledge the high standards of solicitors and conveyancers across the industry. As a
search company who strive to deliver a fully compliant and professional service, it was a delight to be involved with a body that award worthy firms. We’re already looking forward to the next event and offer sincere congratulations to all the winners and finalists.” Searches UK were honored to support the Wales & West Midlands Regional Award in addition to sponsoring the evening’s Photobooth which generated endless fun and playful memories for guests. For further details about the LFS Conference and Awards visit www. searchesuk.co.uk. Award winners can also be found on the Latest News page.
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 21
www.lawyerchecker.co.uk 0800 133 7127 support@lawyerchecker.co.uk
Do you still transfer funds without checking? Combat the Criminal Conveyancer & Beat Bogus Law Firms
*5 FREE SEARCHES
DON’T BECOME A VICTIM. YOUR CHECK ON FIND A SOLICITOR IS NO LONGER ENOUGH
EFFICIENT AND EASY TO USE WITH ONE EASY PDF FOR YOUR FILE
PAY AS YOU GO. THERE ARE NO BARRIERS TO ENTRY AND THE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL
CALL LAWYER CHECKER TODAY TO REGISTER AND QUOTE #LCFREECF5 TO CLAIM YOUR 5 FREE SEARCHES IN OCTOBER* *5 free searches to be taken by 30.10.15
www.lawyerchecker.co.uk | 0800 133 7127
ConveyancingFOCUS: Client Satisfaction
KEEPING CLIENTS SATISFIED Searches UK proudly boasts an average client feedback score of 9.9/10 At Searches UK our clients are the most important part of our business and making sure they are happy and satisfied with our service shapes the way we function as a firm. We work together with our clients to bring the most beneficial and market leading products and services to them, alongside a dedicated orders and enquiries team that are on hand to assist with any queries they may have. With our clients best interests in mind, Searches UK joined Checkaprofessional to give them the freedom to express how we were performing as their search provider through an independent and impartial channel. Honest feedback helps us gauge how satisfied clients are with our service and lets us make improvements if and when the need arises.
Lisa Beale, Head of Checkaprofessional. com said: “Searches UK were one of the first businesses to join Checkaprofessional.com. On speaking with Andrew it was important to him that as a business they were able to offer their prospective clients complete reassurance and transparency regarding the services they offer. Andrew was aware that Checkaprofessional.com offered the transparency, along with the third party verified testimonials which he was looking for, so swiftly joined Checkaprossional. com.” Since joining Checkprofessional.com, Searches UK have gained an outstanding score of 9.9 out of 10 which speaks for itself. Our average score reviewed our commitment to professionalism, quality of service, advice, communication and
customer service. Andrew Stenning, Managing Director of Searches UK commented: “We are fortunate enough to have great clients who kindly take time out of their busy day to review our services. Searches UK strive for excellence and our team is truly dedicated to helping firms in any way possible. Our continued commitment to our clients has proved a success and we thank all firms that have participated in our achievement of a 9.9 out of 10 score.” Searches UK are grateful for your feedback and will continue to listen to the needs of our clients. For more information about our products and services or to speak to a member of our team call 0800 043 1815 today.
GENUINE CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“Always friendly and helpful and never fail to “go the extra mile”. Both myself and my colleagues are very happy with the service which is very personal in a sector which is not renowned for this quality“ Client in Hythe
t, cien hat ffi e t an ice ffer al serv e on o K r n y ma es U perso tea s happ rch d a e n e h S a y T . a e so n iv ate are alw site is ’t etit e p b b n e nd com ot be it is ! rw n st a hei c that t can o assi ted d c i ai ta t m s n o t d o n a c o han lp - th erg m are e nd e h a a e l o t r t a un e tbo tion hat th s c a n E fu nt in ofte Client too
on mes i t nd ant rou leas le rna p u t d an nt ab elle lts, dge nt “Exc ch resu knowle xcelle e r r f sea with live ss o ling y to de gardle a e d o tr e re y. f wh r servic e quer f a t s h e t “ tom small ssed cus how y impre ford uild Ver nG i t n Clie
“Searches UK have always provided a first class and cost effective service. I would be happy to recommend this company“ Client in Sussex
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk
| 23
Whichever way you piece it together... Searches UK have a more superior range of benefits for their clients compared to any other search company. Unit 2, Gemini Business Centre 136-140 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN3 7BD
0800 043 1815
info@searchesuk.co.uk
www.searchesuk.co.uk