Conveyancers call for wider industry support in the wake of PM Law closure
The personal stories of the impact the PM Law closure has had on home movers has been widely publicised in the national press with families in limbo, and many left paying two mortgages as redemption funds were caught up in the fallout from the stricken firm. A Facebook group set up by those affected now […]
HMRC confirms tax adviser registration rules
HMRC has published its updated guidance on the requirement to register as a tax adviser and the conditions individuals and firms must meet. Every business which interacts with HMRC about someone else’s tax affairs and receives payment for doing so must register for an agent services account from 18 May. ‘Interaction’ is classed as dealing […]
One week to go… Register now for National Conveyancing Month 2026
An initiative to support conveyancers and promote their role across the home moving sector returns in March with a refreshed format and a swathe of new content. National Conveyancing Month, previously National Conveyancing Week, returns from Monday 2nd March to allow for even greater industry wide participation and engagement. The thinking behind extending the initiative […]
Chain breakdowns adding a 43% premium to the cost of moving
Home movers spent an additional 43% over their allocated budget for home moving essentials including conveyancing, searches and surveys when their home moves were delayed or broke down as a result of chain related issues, according to data from Barclays. A third of UK adults (32%) who bought or sold a home in the last […]
SRA ‘will profile law firms’ to identify warning signs of collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will profile law firms to help identify those at risk of collapse, chief executive Sarah Rapson (pictured) has said. Speaking to the Law Society Gazette this week, Rapson said the SRA will prioritise proactive action and “getting ahead of the risks” in the wake of high-profile failures at Axiom Ince, SSB […]
LMS and PEXA join Bank of England synchronisation lab to test house purchase payments
LMS and PEXA have been selected to take part in the Bank of England’s Synchronisation Lab, which has been set up to test business models for synchronising payments across the financial services sector. The tech companies are the only two participants selected for the ‘house purchase’ element of the BoE’s synchronisation testing. “In October 2025, […]
What can be done about post-exchange fall throughs?
Property transaction fall throughs is the topic of the latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast; specifically how to tackle situations when there is an issue between exchange and completion. Although admittedly rare, the consequences can be chastening; and this was certainly the case for the sister of former director of FTSE 100 wealth‑management business St James’s Place […]
Why 2026 feels like a turning point for conveyancing
Joy Hagelthorn, senior product manager at e4 Strategic UK, explores the frustrations that persist within the conveyancing process, and explains why she believes 2026 will be the turning point. Just before Christmas, I read a piece on Today’s Conveyancer from Landmark Information Group that looked ahead to this year and the pressures and prospects […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Handbags vs houses
I lost two possible new clients this week. I always follow up with clients after sending a quote and in both of these cases I was told that I was too expensive. What was interesting about one of these prospective clients is that when I asked if they had considered my quote, they told me […]
Urban extension with 795 homes approved on unallocated greenfield land
A major appeal decision in Gloucestershire has highlighted once again how rapidly a weakened housing land supply can shift planning outcomes – even on large, unallocated greenfield sites that sit outside defined settlement boundaries. Persimmon Homes has secured permission for a 795-home scheme on land north of Cam, following Stroud District Council’s failure to determine […]