Major legal regulators fall short in latest performance assessment
The two largest legal regulators in England and Wales have fallen short of expected standards, according to the latest annual performance assessment published by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Bar Standards Board (BSB) together regulate more than 90% of legal professionals in England and Wales. Both failed to demonstrate […]
Conveyancers perform miracles ahead of Manic Monday
Conveyancers up and down the country have pulled out all the stops to help homeowners beat the SDLT deadline. With just a few hours to go until the latest stamp duty cliff edge, tales of heroics have been shared with this publication, and on social media. Daventry-based Simply Conveyancing clocked up 146 completions in one […]
February transaction numbers 24% up on 2024 with more to come
February’s transaction numbers provide a glimpse of the scale of activity in the residential property with volumes up a quarter on the same time last year, and 10% up on January 2025. With the SDLT deadline today (31st March 2025) there is no doubt February’s numbers are an indicator of what can be expected once […]
Santander first to react to FCA’s call to enhance affordability
Santander say they are the first lender to respond to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) call to increase the amount of money lenders can borrow; and increase the affordability of mortgage for those looking to buy their first home, or move. The bank says it has reduced residential affordability rates by up to 0.75% bringing […]
Market to maintain momentum after March
The supply of new properties coming to market is outstripping demand in many area of the country but with 5% more sales, and 11% more properties to buy, the prognosis for the property market after the end of March looks promising. There is likely to be a stamp duty ‘hangover’ say Zoopla in their latest […]
‘Overwhelming’ support for industrial action at MHCLG
Public and Commercial Services (PCS) members working in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action. The union balloted members after it raised concerns over planned office closures, rigid office attendance policies and changes to recruitment practices. The results of the first ballot, which balloted members based […]
Building Safety Levy delayed until Autumn 2026
The Building Safety Levy, the tax introduced to fund the removal of unsafe cladding from homes, has been delayed after warnings it could hamper house building plans. Initially planned to be introduced later this year, the Ministry for Housing said it now be introduced from Autumn 2026. With a stated ambition to stimulate house building, […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – A salute to the profession
So , fellow conveyancers, we are nearly there… in the hope that there are no issues with the completions going ahead today, I salute you all. It wasn’t about ‘pulling our fingers out’ (yes I saw that comment on LinkedIn and was horrified!), it was about doing the best for our clients and looking after […]
