News brought to you by the Today’s Conveyancer editorial team.
A consultation on stamp duty land tax should be launched by the end of this year, according to a Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) report into affordability and barriers to home ownership, particularly
The value of new mortgage lending agreed to be advanced increased by 11.5% in Q1, to £78 billion, a 14.2% year-on-year increase. The value of gross mortgage advances decreased by 12.3% to £69.6 billion, 10.2%
Amity Law, a property law firm specialising in residential conveyancing, has completed its first digital purchase transaction using PEXA. The transaction marks an important milestone in the adoption of a digital completions process in the
The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA), formerly The Coal Authority, has announced the launch of a free online tool providing public access to thousands of historical coal mining plans. The digital maps are now available on
Emily Holland joined Pearson Hards in 2017 to assist the senior conveyancing manager and now has her own caseload of files. During her time at the firm she has developed considerable knowledge and experience about
Fully avoidable requisitions make up nearly 5% of all applications to HM Land Registry according to newly published data aimed at helping conveyancers identify where issues are arising and what action may be taken to
The Legal Services Board (LSB) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) will play key roles in the newly established AI Growth Lab, a government-led advisory sandbox intended to accelerate the development and deployment of AI
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Jelena Lentzos as director of strategy, policy and engagement. She will lead the LSB’s strategy, policy, and research teams at what the organisation said is a “pivotal moment
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has published its interim report into the use of referral fees and put forward a series of recommendations to strengthen transparency and consumer protection. The review found that referral
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has published a new client guide to the Renters’ Rights Act, to support conveyancers and firms in educating landlords, renters and members of the public. Written in plain English,
To help firms select technology that meets ongoing needs, Today’s Conveyancer invited four experts to share their top tips on identifying and implementing the right combination of software. In the first of a three-part series,
“Consumers don’t care about data. They care about whether something will stop them buying the property.” So says Jess Green, chief commercial officer at property due diligence search provider Martello. The former conveyancer and mortgage
The pipeline of future housing transactions remains resilient, with net mortgage approvals tracking above the latest six month average, according to the latest Bank of England Money and Credit Data for April 2026. Net mortgage
A failed claim for Stamp Duty Land Tax exemption on part of a property on which sheep would graze has cost home owners nearly £50,000 after a first tier tribunal (FTT) ruled the use of
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed the first intended actions to come out of recent client money consultations. “Higher risk” firms with a turnover of more than £600,000, or holding more than £2 million
HM Land Registry has issued updates to 23 land registration practice guides to reflect how applications should be made using its digital systems. The updates were released on 1st June, and include specific guidance for
Angela Hesketh is a dual-qualified conveyancer with an extensive understanding of the challenges within residential property law and practice. Transitioning to consultancy, she advised startups on reshaping the industry whilst streamlining conveyancing processes. She has
The property market will remain resilient in the face of current challenges if the latest shock passes relatively quickly, with any short-term softening short lived, according to the latest Nationwide House Price Index. The report
The Law Society of England and Wales council has elected Jeff Lewis as its new deputy vice president. Lewis will take office in October 2026, become vice president in 2027 and president of the Law
Property transaction trends are broadly in line with expectations, after the latest HMRC residential transaction numbers revealed a seasonally adjusted estimate of 101,030 transactions in April, 3% lower than last month. While the impact of
Research commissioned by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has found two thirds of those questioned “have felt unable to cope with workload at least sometimes,” with 17% saying they can’t cope “frequently”. The Workplace
The number of self-employed consultant lawyers within alternative legal service provider (ALSP) platforms has topped 5,000 – a 25% increase in just 12 months. The numbers have been revealed in the fourth Platform Firms Report
Scottish private equity firm Aliter Capital has completed its third law firm acquisition in two years, in a move which will see the creation of a new legal group with a headcount of 150 and
The government needs to go “further and faster” on leasehold reform, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee says in its report published this week on the proposed Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. But
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) chair Anna Bradley has stepped down after eight years in the role, with the formal process for identifying her successor beginning on 1st June. In a statement published on the SRA
To help firms select technology that meets ongoing needs, Today’s Conveyancer invited four experts to share their top tips on identifying and implementing the right combination of software. In the first of a three-part series,
The latest Today’s Conveyancer Podcast turns its attention to one of the profession’s most persistent, and least openly discussed, challenges: the impact of maternity leave on women’s careers in law. While the legal sector is
A sandbox test has shown for the first time how trusted property data can be accessed, verified and shared securely. The Smart Property Data Trust Framework ‘sandbox’ – a safe environment to test software –
Property portal Zoopla says sales agreed are 1% up on the same time last year despite buyer demand being 10% down; the first positive sales agreed figure of 2026. As the property market moves toward
The government’s efforts to introduced digital ID checks have been “rushed, poorly thought out and failed to make a convincing case for the introduction of digital ID,” according to a Home Affairs Committee report. Although
A November court date has been set for the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s case against Rightmove, which has been accused of “abusing its dominant market position” by charging “excessive and unfair” subscription fees. First reported in
The Conveyancing Awards has revealed its winners, with individuals and firms recognised in 21 categories. Hosted by comedian and writer Lou Sanders at The Londoner Hotel, the awards saw 300 professionals from conveyancing firms, legal