Planning rules overhauled for ‘fastest infrastructure building in a generation’
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced planning reforms it says will cut pre-application time by up to a year and save developers £1 billion on major infrastructure projects. Delivered through the Planning and Infrastructure Act, the changes set to come into effect later this month will scrap mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure […]
Complaints to LeO up 36% in 12 months, with a third relating to conveyancing
Over a third of complaints submitted to the Legal Ombudsman related to residential conveyancing, nearly three times the number of the next most-complained about services – personal injury and wills and probate. Just under 10% of complaints related to family law. The figures in the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) 2025/26 annual report revealed 36.1% […]
Government seeks views on exemptions for ‘quid pro quo’ leases in ground rent cap
The government is seeking views on whether ‘quid pro quo’ leases should be exempt from, or treated differently to, proposals to a proposed cap on ground rents in residential leases. The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill legislates to cap ground rents at £250 per year, changing to a peppercorn after 40 years. The government is considering an […]
SRA consults on new proposals for complaints handling
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a public consultation on new rules for complaint handling by regulated law firms, after proposals in its October 2025 consultation were withdrawn. The additional draft rules build on the reforms contained in the 2025 consultation, the SRA said, but “will not revisit” the earlier proposals. Although the SRA formally […]
Climate change is now a key property transaction concern, research shows
Climate risk has moved from a growing concern to a core property transaction issue, according to new market research from Landmark Information Group. The report, Climate Change in the property sector 2026: Turning insight into action, shows that more than four in five property professionals (81%) say climate risk information is becoming as important as […]
PM Law COFA disqualified and ordered to pay £1350 costs
The Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) at failed law firm PM Law has been disqualified from holding senior and compliance roles in law firms under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007, according to a Solicitors Regulation Authority decision published this week. Jonathon Bostock, a chartered accountant, was a non-lawyer manager and […]
‘Home buying and selling reform must be built on practical delivery’ – Law Society president Mark Evans
The government’s plans to reform the home buying and selling process signal a shift towards a quicker, more transparent system – a step that Law Society president Mark Evans says is long overdue in a sector plagued by delays and complexity. But, he adds, while the overall direction is positive, significant questions remain about how […]
Surviving and thriving in a modern conveyancing practice
In a post on social media, Marc Lansdell, founder of Evolve Law and the guest in this week’s Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, boldly stated his firm had put up conveyancing fees and he had not seen any loss of work or negative impact on his business. Despite difficult market conditions, Lansdell explains how the decision was […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – A plea for time
A little plea from me this week that will save time for everyone. We all have busy working lives. We all deal with a never-ending barrage of emails. We all know there aren’t enough hours in the day to update everyone who wants an update on the progress of a transaction. May I suggest one […]