Mental Health Awareness Week: Law Society says Mental Health Act must work for all; Conveyancing Foundation shares resources for conveyancers
As Mental Health Awareness Week gets underway, the Law Society of England and Wales is urging the UK government to formally consult with experts and those with lived experience to develop a code of practice for the Mental Health Act 2025. The new act, which became law in December 2025 and will be rolled out over […]
Mandatory tax adviser registration: The question firms are still avoiding
As HMRC remains steadfast in its insistence conveyancers must register as tax advisers in the face of ongoing objections, the Law Society of England and Wales has shared its own detailed guidance to help conveyancers approach the changes. With the confusion showing no sign of abating with just days to go to the registration commencement, […]
Conveyancing Association backs Select Committee recommendations for upfront information and estate agent regulation
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 agents. According to the trade body, most of the committee’s recommendations reflect long-standing industry concerns around delays, failed transactions and […]
No clear date for Bracknell Forest search issue resolution
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 work with Arcus and external data experts to find a solution to the ongoing land charges ICT issue. Unfortunately, we […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – At what cost?
I read this week that the cost of practising certificates is set to increase. It seems to me that it is costing more and more to be a solicitor, especially within a conveyancing firm. And I am sure it would surprise clients to know how much has to be paid before we can even open […]
What does agentic diligence actually look like?
Ed Molyneux has spent recent weeks explaining what AI can do, where it fails, and why provenance and shared data matter. Now he walks through a day in the life of a buyer’s conveyancer working with an AI agent on a live transaction — and invites the profession to consider what changes and what stays […]
Searches, supplier panels and the question of consumer choice in conveyancing
In the debate over conditional selling by estate agents, are conveyancers throwing stones in glass houses? Daniel Hamilton-Charlton, CEO of Property Searches Direct, examines the process surrounding conveyancing searches. There is an increasing conversation within conveyancing circles about conditional selling in estate agency practice, particularly where consumers are encouraged or required to use in-house […]
Wales to be part of home moving test bed bringing the industry together in spirit of collaboration
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, it is hoped Move Wales will become a test bed for a “more collaborative, transparent and consumer-focused approach to home […]
Profile: Paula Higgins, CEO and founder of HomeOwners Alliance
Paula Higgins is the founder and CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, which exists to give practical help to homeowners facing some of the biggest and most complex decisions of their lives. At www.hoa.org.uk visitors will find independent tips across every aspect of buying, owning and selling. A respected commentator and advocate for homeowners, Paula is regularly […]
I recently met a contented conveyancer
Rob Hailstone recounts an experience with a contented conveyancer, and learns that an earlier instruction can go a long way when it comes to keeping the professionals happy. A few days ago, I was invited to the head office of a major lender, an eye-opening experience, though that’s a story for another time. Since […]
HMLR offering free post completion training to ‘avoid easy errors’
HM Land Registry (HMLR) is offering a series of interactive workshops designed for post-completion specialists to support efforts to reduce errors and save time and money. The webinars explore some of the most common issues that conveyancers face, HMLR says, and provide a clear understanding of what common requisitions the agency receives and how to […]
Law Society publishes tax adviser registration Q&A
The Law Society has published a question and answer section on its website relating to the upcoming requirement for conveyancers to register as tax advisers with HMRC. Despite efforts to convince the government that conveyancers should not be identified as tax advisers under the Finance Act 2026 for the role they play in processing stamp […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Clarity over client boundaries
It is always interesting /frustrating/irritating (add further words as needed!} to come back into work after a Bank Holiday and open the inbox to be met with a deluge of emails. Not only that, a quick glance at social media and there are a myriad of people suggesting we should be giving updates to clients […]
CLC seeks views on proposed rule changes
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is seeking views on proposed changes to the rules governing how disciplinary proceedings involving regulated practices and individuals are dealt with by its independent adjudication panel. Member feedback is encouraged on changes to the procedural rules that govern matters under the panel’s consideration, which the CLC says will enhance […]
Why tmGroup is backing the National Property Transaction Network
As digital transformation begins to pick up pace, with high street lenders Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest both announcing digital transaction milestones in recent weeks, property technology provider tmGroup explains why it’s getting behind an industry initiative to standardise data. The announcement last week that Lloyds Banking Group, Connells Group and LMS have launched […]
Leasehold ‘blighting lives’ says housing minister, as plans to introduce commonhold reaffirmed
The government has reaffirmed plans to introduce commonhold as the default tenure to “stop the renewal of the leasehold system” and give homeowners back control of their homes. Speaking at the Institute for Government, Matthew Pennycook , the minister of state for housing, communities and local government, described leasehold as a “blight” and a barrier […]
Complaints, context and the case for better communication in conveyancing
In her regular monthly column, the Conveyancing Association’s director of delivery Beth Rudolf looks behind the headline statistics from the Legal Ombudsman’s complaints data, and finds a reassuring theme. Apparently, 87% of clients are happy with their conveyancer and it is easy for us to do even better. Yet, recent headlines on the Legal […]
Two things are quietly slotting into place that will change how conveyancing gets done within 18 months
Every major AI company in the world has agreed on a single way for AI agents to connect to external data, and Microsoft has already shipped it in Teams. Meanwhile, the UK property industry has been building its own open data standard, now live with Lloyds, Connells and LMS. Ed Molyneux explains why these two […]
Ipswich firm is subject of latest SRA intervention – but no reasons provided
Ross Coates Solicitors in Ipswich is the latest law firm subjected to an intervention by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, following regulatory action this week. No details for the closure have been provided by the SRA to date, other than to say it was necessary to intervene to protect client interests. Proprietor Ross Coates is also […]
Profile: Lorna Thomson, partner and head of residential conveyancing at Clifton Ingram
Lorna Thomson is a partner and head of residential conveyancing at Clifton Ingram, bringing decades of experience in property law to her role. Having qualified in the 1990s, she has built a career spanning both residential and commercial property. She now leads a busy and growing team of lawyers and support staff across three offices […]