John German Estate Agents has been selling, letting, and valuing homes since the nineteenth century. Still independently owned, it has established itself as one of the most trusted estate agents in the Midlands. To find out more about how Checkboard is helping this venerable institution adapt to the modern property market, we spoke to Operations […]
According to a recent report by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), solicitors are still “high risk” for money laundering. Despite cases remaining low overall, the SRA identifies lawyers as a weak link in the compliance chain. Criminals target the legal profession for the legitimacy it offers, but they’re being enabled by crooked solicitors. So says […]
Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance is often treated as a chore. But in the right hands, it’s also an important way to signal trust. Conveyancing firms need to understand how to make it work as a tool for increasing their reputation. Why is good compliance important? AML compliance is important. For many firms, however, it’s just […]
Legal professionals are inadvertently facilitating money laundering. The government calls these “professional enablers” – individuals or organisations that have failed, whether by negligence or deliberate action, to do their due diligence. Conveyancing, trusts, and management of client accounts are considered the most high-risk areas for money laundering due to the large sums of money involved. Compliance […]
Your estate agent or conveyancer may have asked you to provide evidence for anti-money laundering (AML) checks. This is now a normal and necessary part of the process of buying a house. But what exactly is the danger of money laundering, and what checks must conveyancers and estate agents perform to help them meet their […]
Client qualification is no longer just about affordability. An increasingly risky property market demands a more thorough approach to due diligence. But technology allows firms to turn this onerous regulatory burden into a swift, smart process. How qualification has changed Traditionally, qualifying a client simply meant ensuring they had the ability to repay their fees […]
What is an anti-money laundering check? When someone buys a property, conveyancers are required to conduct an anti-money laundering check. The rules for conducting AML checks and types of companies covered by those requirements are set out in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Among them are conveyancers, law firms, estate agents, and others. But what […]
The UK government’s new industrial strategy promises a new approach to AML regulations, aimed at reducing the burden on small law firms and unlocking their potential for growth. In particular, it wants to see small firms adopt the very latest technology to help them thrive. What’s the new UK AML strategy? The UK government is […]
Compliance isn’t just the responsibility of big firms. With the right partners and the right tools, even the smallest team can meet regulatory demands without sacrificing performance. What do the regulators expect from small firms? Regulators won’t give you a break just because your firm is small. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or running a […]
If you’ve always relied on tried-and-tested manual processes, you may not realise how much this inefficiency is eating into your margins and damaging your brand. Fortunately, the fix is much easier than you might think. Financial and reputational cost In conveyancing, trust is everything. Your clients want a reliable, efficient, trustworthy service, so any perception […]
