The Legal Sector Group (LSG) – comprised of The Conveyancing Association (CA), the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), Bold Legal Group (BLG) and The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) – have today (20th June 2017) published its complete proposals on Leasehold reform. The Legal Sector Group has consulted widely on the new proposals, including with The Law Society, and has drafted a wide-ranging policy document designed to reduce the potential for abuse of leasehold, speed up the leasehold conveyancing process, increase certainty for consumers and remove some of the unreasonable costs that can come with it. The Leasehold reform proposals have been split into eight key areas with specific policy initiatives for each. Those key areas are: Reasonable fees for administrative activities – covering a tariff of fees for quantifiable activities and the provision of standardised documents. Reasonable timescales for administrative activities – creating obligations for the Lease Administrator in terms registration and their provision of information within a certain timescale. Enforcement – with a mandatory requirement for all Freehold Management or Leasehold Administrators to be part of a redress scheme. Unfair lease terms – covering initial lease terms, rent review clause, escalating ground rents, and exit/event or transfer fees. Overhaul of tenure – covering a review of Commonhold regulations and a simplification of the process to extend leases and convert to freehold. Building insurance – obligations for landlords and requirements for Lease Administrators to ‘shop around’. Management regulation – covering reserve funds on leasehold/freehold management block and costs of management charges. Marketing of leasehold properties – covering the provision of upfront information on remaining term of the lease, ground rent, annual service charge, rent review clauses, lease clauses, etc. Following the conclusion of the General Election, the Legal Sector Group has now written to the new Housing Minister, Alok Sharma MP, outlining the proposals and requesting a meeting to discuss them further. The Group will also be presenting the proposals to the Law Commission and is looking to work with all stakeholders in order to bring in these much-needed proposals. Beth Rudolf, Director of Delivery at the Conveyancing Association, said: “The Legal Sector Group, along with a number of notable stakeholders and contributors, have now been able to publish these Leasehold reform proposals, which we believe point the way ahead for a 21st Century leasehold process. The CA has long-campaigned for leasehold reform – it is a key work stream within our Strategic Plan – and we are now urging the powers that be to put in place a programme of change in order to provide both sellers and buyers of leasehold property with certainty, peace of mind, reasonable costs and a much greater degree of clarity in terms of what they are signing up to, and the responsibilities that are shared amongst those involved in their leasehold property. We are looking forward to working with the Law Commission and the new Government in order to make these proposals a reality.”  Rob Hailstone, CEO and founder of the BLG, said: “These proposals are much needed and if introduced will help the home buying and selling public and conveyancers in a number of ways. It is encouraging to see the CA, CILEx, BLG and the SLC working together with a common aim.”  Simon Law, Chairman of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), commented: “The SLC has been advocating for many years that the serious shortcomings associated with leasehold title, and the process for buying and selling leasehold properties, are addressed for the benefit of homeowners. It is gratifying that the legal profession including solicitors, licensed conveyancers and Chartered Legal Executives have come together to arrive at a common set of proposals for both the Law Commission and the Government to consider. There is no individual or party better placed than those legal professionals who serve their clients day in and day out in buying and selling leasehold properties to architect the much needed reforms set out in these proposals.”  Martin Callan, President of CILEx, said: “CILEx hopes that the proposals will ensure fairness to consumers, speed up the sale and purchase of residential leasehold properties and lead to less abortive transactions and loss of fees. We, and the Group, have been working towards this for some time and it is encouraging that lawyers are presenting proposals to the Law Commission that if implemented will have a major benefit for all.” For further information on The Conveyancing Association including how to join, please visit: www.conveyancingassociation.org.uk For further information on the BLG please e-mail: Rob: rh@boldgroup.co.uk For further information on the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) visit: www.conveyancers.org.uk, call 08714 237193 or e-mail info@conveyancers.org.uk For further information on CILEx, please visit: www.cilex.org.uk

The third annual Business Eye First Trust Bank Small Business Awards, the premier awards for SME businesses in Northern Ireland took place on Thursday 15th June in the Crowne Plaza Belfast with BlueZone Technologies being selected as Highly Commended Start Up Business of the Year. Newry based BlueZone Technologies have developed an innovative software specifically for the manage­ment of health and safety within the built and compliance environment, which helps ensure your people are safe and healthy and your building portfolio compliant. Adrian Byrne, CEO, commented: “With a very high calibre of businesses shortlisted, we were delighted to be recognised by the judges and this is acknowledgement of the dedicated staff and quality product we have here at BlueZone”. BlueZone Technologies was chosen by the judges as they were deemed to be one of Northern Ireland’s most promising enterprises and illustrated what can be achieved by a Start-Up business. www.bluezonetechnologies.com Follow BlueZone Technologies on Twitter @BluezoneTech1 or LinkedIn.

Students from City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Kelvin College and South Lanarkshire College competed in the 2017 Incorporation of Masons Pre-Apprentice Competition in Bricklaying and Plastering last week, which took place in Glasgow Kelvin College. In the plastering section, students were asked to render a rough wall with two coats of plaster to tight dimensions.  It took most of the day to level the wall, set out the area to be plastered, mount the borders and then plaster and finish the wall to a highly smooth standard. The competition was marked by Phil Inglis of City of Glasgow College and Lewis Anderson of South Lanarkshire College who were both impressed with the accuracy and quality of work by all the students.   The winner was Declan Collins of South Lanarkshire College. Like the Plastering Competition, the Bricklaying Competition was designed to stretch the students’ ability and also show the ability to work to a tight timeline.  The judges for this competition were John Weir of City of Glasgow College, Jim Neil a retired Senior Lecturer from Kelvin College and Ian MacPherson of CITB.    Once again the marking between students was very close, but the final winner was Matthew Callaghan from South Lanarkshire College. Craig Bryce, the Past Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons, said; “We are incredibly grateful to the three colleges for organising and judging these competitions, especially when staff are so busy at this time of year ensuring the success of as many students as possible.” Craig continued; “All the competitors did a marvellous job producing an outstanding level of work and enjoyed seeing their counterparts in action.” The winners of the competitions will both receive a cheque for £100, a certificate, a golden medal and an invitation to the Deacon’s Choosing Dinner as guests of the Incorporation of Masons. The Incorporation of Mason’s traditions are rooted in the Trades of Glasgow – having been established to protect the stonemasons and the City of Glasgow from poor workmanship when Glasgow Cathedral was being built – and is not connected to the Freemasons.   It presents prizes and an annual bursary to students and makes donations to worthy causes, maintaining its charitable work over the centuries.