Two year TA6 saga ends as sixth edition mandatory from today
The TA6 Property Information Form sixth edition formally becomes compulsory from today (Monday 30th March) for Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited firms, bringing an end to a two-year saga after efforts to introduce an updated fifth edition resulted in uproar from the conveyancing community. The furore erupted when the fifth edition of the TA6 was […]
‘No indication’ tax adviser status to be deferred
There is ‘no indication’ HM Revenue and Customs will defer the requirement for conveyancers to register as tax advisers, following a meeting with the tax authority last week. In a blog reporting on HMRC’s views expressed in the meeting, published on the Bold Legal Group forum and shared widely on social media, John Shallcross, a […]
Exchange time now 135 days – up 45% since 2019
The time it takes to exchange contracts has risen to 135 days, according to analysis by Novus Strategy – 45% longer than in 2019 and 3% higher than last year. The increase comes despite a 3% drop in property transactions year-on-year, with HMRC recording 79,880 transactions at the end of January 2026 compared with 82,350 in 2025. Using data from […]
When is a conveyancer a tax adviser? Scope, proportionality and the Finance (No. 2) Bill
Joy Bassett explores the scope of the Finance (No.2) Bill and whether the legislative definition meets policy objectives, and suggests viable alternatives to a catch-all ‘tax adviser’ category. The Finance (No. 2) Bill proposes a mandatory registration regime for those defined as tax advisers interacting with HMRC on behalf of clients. The policy objective […]
Membership opens for initiative which aims to create ‘faster, more certain property transactions’
An initiative which launched last year and set out eight industry commitments to facilitate “faster, more certain property transactions” is opening its doors to membership and inviting property organisations of all sizes to play a part in improving the home buying and selling process. Launched in September 2025, Project 28 is the work of 23 […]
Profile: Rachel Byles, residential property associate at Knights
Rachel Byles is an associate with over 20 years of extensive experience across all aspects of residential property. Her expertise includes freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, new build transactions, remortgages, probate sales, traditional and modern auction sales and purchases, buy to let investments and matrimonial transfers. She prides herself on delivering a proactive, efficient […]
Don’t panic, but stay alert – CLC discusses tax adviser registration during National Conveyancing Month
Don’t panic, but stay alert is the message from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) when it comes to tax adviser registration, said Stephen Ward, director of communications at the regulator, in a wide ranging discussion exclusively for National Conveyancing Month. Ward said he hoped for greater clarity from HMRC on the responsibilities on conveyancers, […]
Transparency and accountability needed for “complex” freehold estates and private management arrangements
“Outdated and disproportionate” enforcement related to recharges should be ended, and there should be greater transparency and consistency in how estate management charges are communicated said the Conveyancing Association (CA) in response to the Government’s recently closed consultation on estate management reform In December of last year the government launched two consultations as part of […]
Housing market “gradually regaining momentum” according to Propertymark report
The housing market is “stabilising rather than surging” suggests the latest Housing Insight report from Propertymark. But the report draws on data published before the recent Bank of England decision to hold base rate and the current volatility in the Middle East which commentators predict will have an impact on the property market. Provisional data […]
Global volatility leads to unanimous rates hold decision
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75% citing global unrest increasing the cost of energy and other commodities affecting households and businesses. As a result the MPC anticipates a near term increase in inflation as it continues efforts to bring it down to the 2% target In […]
Rebuilding the ladder: Why new first time buyer ideas matter for conveyancers
Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at The Conveyancing Association, explores the practical solutions a new initiative has introduced to combat affordability issues for first time buyers. For many years the debate around first-time buyers has followed a familiar pattern. We hear the barriers are too high, affordability has stretched too far and a generation […]
New plans announced to reshape how England protects and manages land
England’s first Land Use Framework sets out a plan for managing the country’s finite land more efficiently. Marking a “significant shift” in how the government intends to oversee land resources, it aims to balance the demands of housing, food production, nature recovery and renewable energy. The framework was developed by the Department for Environment, Food […]
Beyond the flood report: Why property flood resilience matters in transactions
Graham Brogden MBE, chair of the International Property Flood resilience Association (IPFRA), explains why flood risk is on the agenda of every conveyancer, and outlines what IPFRA is doing to support consistent standards and best practice across the sector. Flood risk is no longer a niche environmental concern within property transactions. It is increasingly […]
Gap widens for second steppers as average age of FTBs rises
The price gap for those looking to move on from their first home is wider than ever, according to the latest figures from Rightmove. The average three to four-bed home now costs 52% more than a typical first-time buyer home, putting increased pressure on those looking to move up the property ladder. In March, the […]
New appointments and expansions from Merseyside to Tunbridge Wells
Five law firms have announced significant appointments and expansions with Napthens naming a new legal director for conveyancing, Thomson Snell & Passmore appointing a new head of real estate, and conveyancing firm Montpellier Legal opening a new office in central London. Tammy Jones has been appointed to lead the residential conveyancing team at Merseyside firm […]
A taxing twist in the regulation of conveyancers? The mandatory requirement to register with HMRC as tax advisers
Alexandra Charlton sets out the implications of HMRC’s new tax adviser rules for conveyancers, and sets out the steps that should be taken to comply with the new requirements. The reform Legislative reform, prompted by the government’s aim to raise standards in the tax advice markets, comes into effect from 18 May 2026. The implementation […]
Profile: Nicola Lebish, partner at Birketts LLP
Nicola Lebish is a partner specialising in residential real estate, with a particular focus on complex conveyancing and leasehold matters. With extensive experience advising clients on high‑value and technically demanding transactions, Nicola combines a rigorous understanding of property law with a practical, client‑focused approach. What was your career path to your current role? My […]
SLC and BLG remain ‘extremely concerned’ at HMRC tax adviser requirement for conveyancers
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) and the Bold Legal Group (BLG) say they remain extremely concerned about the lack of clear guidance from HMRC available to conveyancers regarding the requirement to register as tax advisers, despite repeated requests for clarification. In a joint statement, the organisations said they are receiving a high volume of […]
PCC’s post-completion tips
In the final instalment of our series of articles offering advice and insight into post-completion, Priscilla Sinder and Maria Hardy from the PCC Education Hub share their tips for dealing with common issues. In today’s environment when we are faced with so much technology and systems that guarantee post-completion is just a simple task, […]
The BCAs go north – British Conveyancing Awards take Manchester by storm
The British Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Groundsure, has crowed its 2026 winners at a glitzy ceremony hosted at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday night. Big winners on the night included Rowlinsons Solicitors, AVRillo, TV Edwards Solicitors, and InfoTrack. Like the music industry’s BRIT Awards before it, 2026 marked the first year the British Conveyancing Awards has […]