News brought to you by the Today’s Conveyancer editorial team.
HMRC updated its guidance on the registration of tax advisers twice yesterday (Monday), adding further detail to help businesses identify those who need to register. In a statement accompanying the update, HMRC said: “Further detail
There are signs of the traditional property market spring bounce, according to the estate agency membership and training body Propertymark. The organisation’s latest Housing Insight Report suggests an increase in the number of viewings and
A new legal careers platform promises to offer verified profiles for almost 9000 SRA-regulated firms, with dedicated career pages covering residential property. LawBoard, which launched last month, includes a free salary benchmarking tool that gives
The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology has published a roadmap for open property which it says sets out “a clear and credible pathway to transform the UK’s home buying process”. The Open Property Roadmap
“Fragile consumer confidence, affordability challenges and global economic uncertainty” are impacting on builders’ decisions to invest in new housing, according to the latest figures on new builds from the National House Building Council (NHBC). Despite
Private client law, including wills, probate, tax, trust and estate-related advice is the most profitable area of law for small law firms, alongside litigation and dispute resolution, according to the latest Bellwether Report from LexisNexis.
A survey has revealed nearly two thirds of fee earners admit to using open source artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, potentially compromising client data and confidentiality. The research by legal software company Access Legal
HMRC has released a new service for organisations to check whether they must register as tax advisers under the new rules effective from Monday 18th May 2026. The tool asks users a series of questions
Professional indemnity insurance is a fickle market. Conveyancing firms are once again navigating a market that remains challenging, nuanced, and increasingly shaped by risk culture rather than raw numbers. Renewal season is the backdrop to
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner says she has settled a £40,000 bill for stamp duty land tax after being cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs. In an interview
The housing market is in the “grip of macro headwinds stemming from the Middle East conflict” and, with interest rate rises on the horizon, the outlook for buyers remains challenging, according to the Royal Institution
A new group has been launched to standardise the production of material information and digital sales packs, under the umbrella of the Residential Logbook Association (RLBA). Upfront Information Group (UIG) has been established by the
The King’s speech to Parliament outlining the upcoming legislative agenda has confirmed plans to continue with leasehold reform under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. A new Remediation Bill will include powers to make construction
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has published new guidance on the correct VAT treatment of disbursements. The guidance note brings together information and resources with the aim of supporting firms in determining how to
Almost nine out of every 10 digital ID checks are now successful, according to compliance software company Credas. The company, which supplies software to the legal and property sectors, said its figures demonstrate pass rates
Average transaction times have extended by four weeks since 2019, according to statistics published by Connells Group this week. Leasehold transactions are driving much of the increase in average timescales, with a typical leasehold transaction
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is introducing new requirements for individuals and firms to undertake and report on ongoing competence, as part of a new Ongoing Competence Code. The code, effective from 1st November,
An EWS1 form is intended for valuation and lending purposes only and is not a fire safety certificate and does not replace a professional life safety fire risk assessment, according to new guidance. The Royal
Nearly half of all homes listed for sale in the UK do not sell, according to Zoopla. Analysis of listings on the property portal identified 44% of homes listed in the past three years didn’t
Nina Hood is the head of residential property at Cumbria firm Thomson Hayton Winkley. She is a licensed conveyancer with more than 25 years’ experience in the property sector. Nina leads a 14-strong team of
A growing line-up of speakers and sessions has been confirmed for the Bold Legal Group Conveyancing Conference & Soirée 2026, which takes place on Wednesday 17th June at Regent’s University in London. Confirmed speakers include
The winners of the 19th annual Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence have been announced, with councils up and down the country recognised across eight separate categories. This year also saw the inclusion
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed a £50 increase in individual practising fees, taking the annual fee to £240. Compensation fund contributions are expected to be set at £120 for an individual solicitor and
A cooling of the property market is anticipated “in the short term” according to the latest house price data from Halifax, which shows little movement in average property prices. Price are down by 0.1% in
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has backed recommendations made by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee aimed at improving the home buying and selling process, including upfront property information and stronger regulation of estate
Local authority searches from Bracknell Forest Council remain unavailable after an issue with the transfer of data to a new system supplier. In an email update shared on Friday, the council wrote: “We’re continuing to
New research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) reveals £76,000 has been added to the cost of building a home since 2020, which the organisation says raises serious concerns about the viability of new housing
Are law firms making the most of their technology investment? Most businesses only use a fraction of the capability of their existing technology, underestimating what platforms such as Microsoft 365 or their case management systems
Networking and collaboration group Women in Residential Property has hosted regular property market updates since its inception in 2017, drawing on the experience of its members from across the residential property sector, with representation from
LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, is encouraging legal professionals to take simple practical actions to support their own and others’ wellbeing during Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from the 11th
A new cross-sector initiative in Wales is aiming to leverage technology and upfront information to improve the home buying experience. Backed by FinTech Wales, Legal News Wales, PEXA, the Open Property Data Association and openmoove,
The parent company of legal brands Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood has reported record profits of nearly £10 million; a 118% increase on the previous financial year. AIIC Group’s latest results report an