Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Orpin (pictured) as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Orpin joined the LSB in 2023 as director of regulation and policy and has almost 20 years of
With the government’s consultations on home buying reform and material information coming to an end, organisations within the conveyancing sector have shared their responses. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) backs plans to regulate estate
Seasonally adjusted residential transactions increased by 1% in November, from 99,060 in October 2025 to 100,350 in November 2025 – the highest seasonally adjusted residential transaction figure since March 2025. Non-seasonally adjusted residential transactions decreased
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of
Conveyancers continue to attract significant penalties from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) due to lax AML controls in the “high-risk” sector. In its latest round of published decisions, the SRA has shared eight instances of
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its guideline hourly rates for solicitors, with a recommended 2.28% increase effective from 1 January. The increase will see the top hourly rate (a grade A fee
The latest Money and Credit Report from the Bank of England reveals net mortgage approvals for house purchase, an indicator of future borrowing, fell by 500 to 64,500 in November. Net borrowing of mortgage debt
The government’s inquiry into the affordability of home ownership will continue hearing oral evidence today, with contributions from the Conveyancing Association’s Beth Rudolf, PEXA UK CEO Joe Pepper, and Timothy Douglas, head of policy and
The government is calling for “thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life” to help deliver justice by becoming magistrates. The Ministry of Justice said it is looking for “everyday heroes from all backgrounds”
Planning permission was granted for just 42,000 new homes in England during the third quarter of 2025, a 34% drop on the same quarter the previous year and the lowest quarterly total since 2012. The
Kent law firm Brachers has completed the acquisition of fellow Kent firm Gill Turner Tucker. The acquisition comes a year after Brachers’ partnership with private equity-backed Lawfront, in a deal which took the national group
The housing market of 2025 was resilient, with demand that held up well, according to Nationwide’s House Price Index for December. Despite the year ending “on a softer note” in relation to house prices, Nationwide’s
It’s been a busy year for the conveyancing profession, with stamp duty changes, ministerial resignations, landmark legislation, budget chaos – and proposed reforms that could transform the home buying and selling process. It’s been our
The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) said it is “deeply disappointed” that the government has failed to publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill prior to Christmas. Leaseholders face yet another Christmas in limbo, the campaigners
The landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which the government says is at the heart of its plans to build 1.5 million new homes, has received Royal Assent. The “seismic” planning reforms contained within the act
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 3.75%. Monetary policy is being set to ensure CPI inflation settles sustainably
Housing secretary Steve Reed has launched a major consultation on a revamped National Planning Policy Framework, in what he said will be “the most significant rewrite of planning rules in more than a decade.” The
With the deadline for responding to the draft business plan and budget of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) now passed, the Law Society of England and Wales and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers have shared their
A conveyancing platform that aims to “dramatically” speed up the process of buying a home by automating “critical parts of the admin-heavy conveyancing process” has raised £2.5 million in seed funding. The platform combines purpose-built
First-time buyers, the self-employed and later-life lenders could get a step-up onto the housing ladder under plans announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week. The regulator has shared its priorities for reforms to
The UK housing market performed broadly in line with expectations over the last year despite fluctuations triggered by stamp duty changes, Halifax says in its end of year review. Although forecasts are uncertain against an
The UK Finance Mortgage Market Forecast for 2026 predicts a 1% drop in property transactions, leading to 10,000 fewer transactions than in 2025. Lending for house purchases grew by 22% in 2025, to a total
Six fast-tracked devolution areas will receive a multi-billion pound long-term funding package to support the building of new homes and improved high streets, the government has announced. Combined county authorities in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria,
A rise in the use of ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes is significantly affecting the chances of securing a mortgage for a generation of young professionals, a UK mortgage broker has warned. An analysis by
HMRC has confirmed conveyancers who submit SDLT returns must register as tax advisers, in accordance with legislation introduced in the Finance Bill 2025-26, which will come into effect from May. Confirmation was sent in an
A new expert panel chaired by deputy prime minister David Lammy has met to discuss plans that will ensure the UK remains a leading global centre for legal services. Legal and business experts who make
The last year has been one of the most stable for the housing market in the last decade, according to Halifax head of mortgages Amanda Bryden. Commenting on the release of the latest Halifax House
Three firms have been fined a total of £43,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for failing to conduct adequate anti-money laundering checks in conveyancing transactions. The largest penalty, £20,048, was handed to East London firm
Changes to property taxes announced in the budget are unlikely to impact the housing market, and moderate borrowing costs should support buyer demand, Nationwide’s chief economist Robert Gardner has said. Commenting on the release of
CILEx Regulation has published its new EDI strategy setting out its key objectives for the next three years, along with its Diversity Data Report for 2025. CILEx regulates chartered legal executive lawyers, other members of
Mortgage lending activity returned to growth in Q3, the latest Household Finance Review from UK Finance reveals. Refinancing also increased, with volumes up nearly 50% year‑on‑year. Lending is now around the stable levels seen in
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy has announced plans to modernise the criminal courts and cut delays, in reforms he said would deliver ‘swift and fair’ justice for victims. But