News brought to you by the Today’s Conveyancer editorial team.
Bracknell Forest Council is able to begin work on the backlog of searches it has received since the implementation of a new IT system rendered their search services inoperable. In an update released last week,
A conference focused on small and mid-sized law firms is being run by Consortium, more than marketing, in an effort to inform firms in this vital area of the legal service market. Small and mid-sized
A new legal technology platform designed to help conveyancers identify registration issues before applications are submitted to HM Land Registry (HMLR) is readying for launch with a free initial pilot open to interested conveyancers. RegLand
AIIC, the legal group behind law firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, has announced several leadership changes to define clearer separation between group‑level leadership and the leadership of Taylor Rose. Adrian Jaggard (pictured)
Failed house moves could be costing the economy almost £2 billion every year, according to new research published by the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), with many collapses occurring after the offer has been accepted.
Over 1,000 CILEX lawyers have successfully obtained litigation practice rights, enabling them to carry out litigation without the need for supervision, in the wake of the Mazur judgment. CILEx Regulation (CRL), which oversees the education,
Lenders will turn their attention to lengthening completion times to improve margins and cut costs according to home buying and selling transformation consultants Novus Strategy, as mortgage data reveaed a record value of mortgage cancellations
The government has launched a consultation on the design and delivery of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS), announced in the 2025 autumn budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In its ministerial foreword, the consultation
Client due diligence platform Thirdfort has announced the release of a newly rebuilt platform that brings together ID and document verification, know your business (KYB) checks, anti-money laundering (AML) screening, and source of funds analysis.
The headline acts for the second ever Sort Ball have been announced, with Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle (pictured left) and DJ and TV presenter AJ Odudu (right) leading the Gatsby-inspired evening of entertainment. The
Ben Holtom is the founder of RecQuest, a specialist legal recruitment consultancy covering the south coast, and LawBoard, a legal careers platform providing salary benchmarking and firm data for every SRA-regulated law firm in England
Address for service (PG55) Page summary: This guide explains HM Land Registry practice about addresses for service entered in the register (practice guide 55). Change made: Section 5 has been amended to clarify the order
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