Legal sector reacts to Andy Burnham’s new government
Following the accession of Andy Burnham to Labour leader, the Law Society of England and Wales has called on the new prime minister to work with the legal sector to support growth across the country. Law Society president Mark Evans said Burnham should recognise the role of solicitors outside of London and empower communities by […]
Hot weather and World Cup add to ‘distractions’ for home buyers – Rightmove
Hot weather, a new prime minister and the football World Cup have added to the growing list of “distractions” facing home buyers, according to Rightmove’s latest house price index. The number of sales agreed in the first half of the year was 6% lower than the same period in 2025, the latest figures reveal. However, […]
‘Meaningful progress’ in outstanding applications, HMLR annual report reveals
HM Land Registry made meaningful progress in reducing the number of outstanding applications last year, its annual report and accounts for 2025 to 2026 reveal. All five major post-completion application types are now less than nine months old, meaning most applications are now processed 11 months quicker than at their peak of 19.9 months in […]
Solicitors to pay more for compensation fund contributions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has signalled it will shift a greater proportion of contributions to the compensation fund on to individual solicitors following its consultation on the 2026/27 business plan. Where currently 50% of fund resources comes from individual contributions and the other half from firms, the SRA is proposing a change to 70% […]
Widespread home-mover support for digital property packs, OPDA claims
There is widespread support amongst consumers for digital property packs and fundamental reform of the home buying and selling process, according to a new survey by the Open Property Data Association (OPDA). OPDA’s Future of Homebuying Report 2026, based on research from more than 5,000 recent home movers, found 86% of respondents believe using a […]
Legal Services Board has ‘lost its way’ independent review finds
An independent review of the Legal Service Board (LSB) commissioned in the wake of regulatory failures including Axiom Ince and SSB Law has concluded the organisation has “lost its way in recent years” and has “fallen short” of government and parliamentary expectations. The Legal Services Board Independent Public Bodies Review makes 10 recommendations on the future […]
Don’t let AI and marketing blur the line between SoF and SoW
The distinction between Source of Funds and Source of Wealth is not new, and most conveyancers understand it perfectly well. Source of Funds examines the funds used in a specific property transaction, while Source of Wealth looks at how the client built their overall financial position. The issue is not a lack of understanding. It […]
Could the property market benefit from a Burnham bounce?
Having completed half of 2026 it’s a good time to sit down with regular contributors Ben Robinson and Rob Gurney of Landmark and Ochresoft respectively to look at what has happened in the property market over the first half of 2026, and what it’s in store for the second half. Looking at Landmark’s own data, […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – The problem with modern method of auction
I am acting for a young couple in a purchase of a property. They have had two previous purchases fall through, one due to survey results and one due to the sellers just changing their minds. They had already lost a considerable amount of money. I was therefore hoping for third time lucky when they […]