Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate
UK Finance is supporting Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group and Santander to develop a financial services-led digital verification service that could be used to verify property transactions through banking apps.
Housebuilding statistics published by Homes England reveal a year-on-year increase in both new starts and completions between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, up by 11% and 9% respectively. Housing programmes delivered by the
Conveyancers and professionals across the property ecosystem have shared their reactions to the government’s roadmap for home buying and selling reform. Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association, presented a balanced view. “Home
The government has released its agenda for changes to the home buying and selling process, with “a major shift” to digitalisation at their heart, and reduced duplication through AI-assisted conveyancing. The reforms will cut delays,
The government has released its agenda for reforms to the home buying and selling process, which it says will cut delays, reduce and digitalise paperwork, and stop sales collapsing. The reforms are centred around a
The government will publish a landmark roadmap setting out the steps it will take for a “once in a generation” change to home buying and selling, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage told the Propertymark One conference
Fraud operates “on an industrial scale” and is a threat to national security, according to the latest Annual Fraud Report from UK Finance. The report reveals ‘malicious redirection’ invoice and mandate scams have fallen to
The June heatwave saw demand fall by 10%, according to Rightmove’s real-time housing market data. As well as half-term heat causing a temporary reduction in home-mover activity levels, the property portal’s house price index has
Updates to borrowing rules could see first-time buyers, older borrowers and the self-employed find it easier to get a mortgage, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) acts on its ambitions to reform lending in the
The Middle East conflict continues to dominate housing market commentary as its impact begins to filter through into monthly reporting. The latest Halifax House Price Index shows house prices were down 0.1% in May, following
The government has shared details of its long-awaited consultation on reforming cohabitation rights, which is open now and will run for 10 weeks until 14th August. The consultation will look at three key areas of
HMRC has released its long-awaited guidance for conveyancers on the requirement to register as tax advisers and has confirmed further updates will be added to support applicants with the process. The guide has been issued
The total number of e-signatures used at HM Land Registry by the first quarter of this year is five, according to a freedom of information request. Just two businesses have started submitting Qualified Electronic Signatures
The government has launched its long-awaited consultation on reforms that would give cohabiting couples greater financial protections when relationships end, and automatic inheritance rights when a partner dies without a will. The proposals would also
Homeowners will be given direct access to their own Land Registry data as part of a 12-month digital property logbook trial set to begin this month. The trial, which has been coordinated by the Residential
The updated UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook will ‘soft launch’ today (1st June), in what the banking industry body said will be a parallel process with the existing handbook ahead of its formal release on
With legal technology developing at pace, Today’s Conveyancer brings all the latest innovation together in a regular round up of news, updates and upgrades for conveyancing firms. Here, in the first of what will be
The next generation of conveyancers have taken part in graduation ceremonies after completing specialist programmes with Simply Conveyancing and Convey Law. Five trainees from Convey Law’s Conveyancing Pathway programme (pictured above) have graduated and will
Conveyancers have been focusing their efforts on fundraising and wellbeing initiatives in recent weeks, raising both money and awareness for good causes. Simplify’s conveyancing and property services operations teams have raised more than £7,000 for
Conveyancers and residential property solicitors have been celebrating their career successes this month, with firms announcing a raft of promotions and new appointments. Steele Raymond has strengthened its Southampton presence with the appointment of a
The Conveyancing Task Force, a group of practising conveyancers formed in the wake of the government’s home buying and selling reform consultation, has issued a briefing note to MPs warning that the core issues of
As Mental Health Awareness Week gets underway, the Law Society of England and Wales is urging the UK government to formally consult with experts and those with lived experience to develop a code of practice
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has summoned the Solicitors Regulation Authority to an in-person meeting before the end of May to seek assurance that it has the necessary expertise and oversight approach to deliver the
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
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. The hold has been welcomed as a sign of stability by some, with Jason
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is seeking views on proposed changes to the rules governing how disciplinary proceedings involving regulated practices and individuals are dealt with by its independent adjudication panel. Member feedback is
Conveyancing teams in firms across the country are welcoming new members and celebrating strong growth. A combination of acquisitions and strong organic growth across Staffordshire and Shropshire have helped Midlands-based law firm Talbots Law increase
Higher average mortgage rates have pushed monthly repayments above the cost of renting a typical home in Great Britain for the first time since June 2025, according to a new analysis from Rightmove. The average
The latest house price index from Zoopla reveals a resilient market in the face of ongoing conflict and higher mortgage rates. Buyer enquiries have rebounded to their highest level since the Middle East conflict began,
NatWest has completed its first remortgage transaction using PEXA’s digital platform, with the process taking two working days from the mortgage offer. The typical UK remortgage timeline is around four to six weeks. The accelerated
HM Land Registry is encouraging conveyancers to sign up for three free newsletters which deliver all the latest information, advice and guidance by email. Monthly newsletters Landnet and Practice and Process, and the new quarterly
Research repeatedly points to the adoption of AI in the legal sector as no longer being an optional extra, but a strategic priority. Today’s Conveyancer editor Juliet Shaw takes a look at the latest reports