Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate
A new partnership between PEXA and Mastercard will test account-to-account (A2A) payments for property purchases. A2A is a programmable payment that can be used to securely reserve buyer funds and release them automatically when agreed
A report by the think tank Radix Big Tent Housing Commission suggests ‘rightsizing’ could add 870,000 homes to the housing market. The findings in the commission’s Resizing Rightsizing report reveal households headed by someone aged
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has reprimanded a solicitor for failing to provide a client with adequate information relating to a property transaction, following an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Mark Feely, a partner of
HM Land Registry has two new free online workshops for conveyancers. New Builds in Depth, on 29th September, is a 90-minute workshop that takes a closer look at four areas HMLR customers find challenging: multi-title
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Alan Evans joins the regulator as its new executive director, general counsel, risk and compliance and will take up his
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is seeking views on its proposals for an annual fee increase. A 4% increase in practice fees is proposed for the forthcoming licensing year, which begins on 1 November,
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its final Model Complaints Resolution Procedure (MCRP), a new framework and supporting guidance designed to help legal service providers resolve complaints. The guidance aims to help firms deal with
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain bank rate at 3.75%. Three members voted for a 0.25 percentage points increase, to 4%. Bank of England
A partnership between ONP Solicitors, iamproperty Group and Connells Group has completed a property transaction within six days of receipt of the draft contract pack. The modern method of auction purchase for the Swansea property
Non-executive chair of the Conveyancing Association Nicky Heathcote will step down from her role as she nears the end of her second term. Heathcote will remain in post while the board appoints her successor. She
Bank of England figures reveal net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased to £7.7 billion in June, from £3.3 billion in May, above the previous six month average of £4.9 billion. Net mortgage approvals
Elevated mortgage rates and political uncertainty have created a sharper than usual summer slowdown that has seen agreed sales drop by 9%, according to Zoopla’s July house price index. However, the property portal is confident
Foot Anstey conveyancing services partner Yanthé Richardson, former president of CILEX, has been appointed as a trustee of Spark21, the charity behind the Next 100 Years – an initiative dedicated to achieving equality for women
All the latest innovations brought together in a regular round up of news, updates and upgrades for conveyancing firms. Conveyancing distributor conveybuddy has completed the full technology integration of Talbots Law into its platform. Advisers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has imposed a £16,092 fine on a firm which failed to identify a politically exposed person (PEP) in a series of residential property transactions. Leadenhall Law Group Limited acted for a
Cumbria firm Bendles continues its expansion with the acquisition of Atkinson Ritson. The acquisition follows Bendles’ merger with Gaynham, King & Mellor earlier this year, in a deal which saw Bendles’ Cumbria presence expand from
Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors has promoted Michaela Hayes to partner and joint head of residential conveyancing. Women now make up 67% of the firm’s partnership. Hayes (pictured above) joined the firm in 2021 as
The Legal Ombudsman has shared details of the complaints it received about residential conveyancing in 2025/26. In its annual report published earlier this month, the LeO revealed complaints had risen by 37% overall, with an
HM Land Registry has confirmed the appointment of Iain Banfield as its permanent chief executive and chief land registrar, following a successful year-long tenure as interim CEO. Banfield joined HMLR in 2019, spending over five
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a rebuke to a firm for failure to comply with an undertaking within the agreed timescale in a conveyancing transaction. Preston-based Gowlings Solicitors Limited was acting for the seller
A report from Propertymark has found leaseholders remain trapped by rising costs, complex rules and an uncertain market, despite legislative progress. Leasehold: Still a Life Sentence?, produced in partnership with the National Leasehold Campaign and
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) is calling on organisations to respond to the government’s newly launched consultation on smart data schemes to help shape the future design of property data sharing. The Smart Data
The Legal Services Board is seeking experienced senior leaders to help drive “a major reset” of legal services regulation. The legal services oversight body is recruiting for three senior positions in what chief executive Richard
Average UK house price annual inflation provisionally estimated by HM Land Registry was 2.7% in the 12 months to May 2026, down from a revised estimate of 3.9% in the 12 months to April 2026.
Donations totalling £32,500 have been shared among UK charities thanks to the initiatives of two firms in the conveyancing sector. Conveyancing and property services group Simplify (pictured) has donated £22,500 to nine charities via the
Andy Burnham has taken up his position as prime minister and appointed his cabinet. Angela Rayner returns as housing secretary, Matthew Pennycook remains in post as minister of state for housing and planning, and John
Legal services regulation should be built around specialist expertise, strong oversight and effective collaboration, the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) says. Responding to the Independent Public Bodies Review of the Legal Services Board (LSB), which
HMRC is urging eligible tax advisers, including conveyancers who submit stamp duty returns on behalf of clients, to register under the new mandatory requirements before 18 August 2026. Anyone who has not yet registered should
Angela Rayner has been appointed housing secretary in Andy Burnham’s cabinet, returning to the role she resigned from in September 2025 after admitting underpaying stamp duty on the purchase of an £800,000 flat. Rayner was
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
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers says it is “extremely disappointed” with the “inaccurate representation” levelled at it by the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) in a position paper released this week. The CLC was singled
The government has launched a consultation on extending judicial review reforms beyond Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to major housing, transport and energy developments such as solar projects, road building or affordable homes. Thousands of