Land registration: Practice guides (PG19)
Notices, restrictions and protection of third-party interests (PG19) Page summary: How to apply for a notice or restriction to protect a third-party interest in an estate (practice guide 19). Change made: Section 3.5.1.1 has been amended to clarify when form RX1 must be used to apply for a restriction. The updated wording confirms that an […]
Mortgage approvals up and interest rates down in first quarter of 2026
Mortgage approvals in March 2026 sat slightly higher than the six month average and average mortgage rates decreased slightly, according to the latest Bank of England (BoE) Money and Credit statistics. Net mortgage approvals, a measure of future borrowing, increased to 63,500 in March from 62,700 in February, above an average of around 63,200 over […]
Economic forecast could be ‘somewhat weaker’ as a result of Middle East tensions, says Nationwide
Economic growth is likely to be “somewhat weaker” with higher inflation than previously projected because of geo-political tensions in the Middle East, according to Nationwide Building Society in its latest appraisal of the UK housing market. The house price index reveals current market conditions have surprised the lender, given a weakening of consumer confidence. “Despite […]
Market views wanted for latest CLC sentiment tracker
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is once again running its Quarterly Confidence Tracker to gather the views of the profession on the current state of home buying and selling. The regulator says the results will help it monitor the mood of the property market and how it changes over time. The most recent tracker, published […]
HMLR offering free post completion training to ‘avoid easy errors’
HM Land Registry (HMLR) is offering a series of interactive workshops designed for post-completion specialists to support efforts to reduce errors and save time and money. The webinars explore some of the most common issues that conveyancers face, HMLR says, and provide a clear understanding of what common requisitions the agency receives and how to […]
‘Context is everything’ in latest HMRC transaction figures
HMRC figures for seasonally adjusted residential transactions in March 2026 are 1% higher than February 2026, up to 104,070 from 102,750 – the highest monthly transaction figure since March 2025. Seasonally adjusted transaction figures are 41% lower than in March 2025. The large year-on-year decrease is driven by elevated transaction levels in March 2025 ahead […]
Law Society publishes tax adviser registration Q&A
The Law Society has published a question and answer section on its website relating to the upcoming requirement for conveyancers to register as tax advisers with HMRC. Despite efforts to convince the government that conveyancers should not be identified as tax advisers under the Finance Act 2026 for the role they play in processing stamp […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Clarity over client boundaries
It is always interesting /frustrating/irritating (add further words as needed!} to come back into work after a Bank Holiday and open the inbox to be met with a deluge of emails. Not only that, a quick glance at social media and there are a myriad of people suggesting we should be giving updates to clients […]
When it comes to mental health, small actions can make a real difference
As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches, LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, explains how small changes can make a big difference when it comes to dealing with the pressures of legal life. This Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May) is a reminder that we need to keep talking about mental health, […]
What is the impact of the Middle East conflict on the property market?
In a slightly shorter podcast host David Opie welcomes on usual guests Ben Robinson and Rob Gurney of Landmark to discuss their latest Property Trends Report for the first quarter of 2026. It’s a mixed picture with plenty to be positive about… but how much of the last three months remains relevant against a backdrop […]