Communication, unclear expectations and unjustified delays are key causes of residential conveyancing complaints
Poor communication, unclear or unrealistic expectations and unjustified delays without proper explanation are the key causes of complaints in property transactions, according to the Legal Ombudsman in the latest Spotlight published on its website. The Spotlight goes on to provide guidance for practitioners, focusing on what the ombudsman describes as three critical junctures: instruction and […]
‘The biggest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget’
The Iran conflict has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget, the financial information company Moneyfacts has said, with rates soaring in the space of just one month. Mortgage deals have been rapidly repriced, with average two-year fixed rates jumping from 4.84% to 5.84% in a month, while five-year […]
Mazur overturned: Legal sector reacts
Law firms and practitioners have responded to the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, which limited the extent to which legal executives and paralegals can conduct litigation. Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment, CILEx Regulation said its priority would be to support those who had been affected […]
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 […]
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 […]
ONS figures suggest modest housing market growth but experts warn confidence will ebb
UK house prices rose by 1.3% in the year to January 2026, down from the revised estimate of 1.9% in the 12 months to December 2025. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK decreased by 0.3% between December 2025 and January 2026, compared with an increase 0.4% from the same period […]
Government seeks views on new towns programme, as seven locations revealed with plans to deliver 180,000 new homes
The government is seeking views on its draft new towns programme and has announced seven potential locations for the towns, as it ramps up efforts to build 1.5 million homes during this parliament. The proposed towns across the country come with assurances new infrastructure will include jobs, schools, green spaces and transport links. Each location […]
Private equity invests in fast-growing conveyancing practice
Private equity house Alcuin Capital Partners has invested in fast-growing conveyancing practice Muve and Nova. The investment will drive “continued investment in talent, technology and sales functions to drive its next phase of expansion” said the firm. Muve, a consumer facing brand, and Nova, the business to business brand of Connect2Law featured in the Sunday […]
Charity hike invites participants and hopes to raise £2000
A charity hike in aid of a charity providing life‑changing mental‑health support through nature, movement and professional guidance is being organised by Women in Conveyancing. Open to everyone regardless of gender, job role or hiking experience the group, which offers networking and collaboration opportunities for women working in conveyancing, is organising a hike up 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 […]
Buyer demand dips amid interest rate pessimism, RICS finds
Buyer demand has dipped amid renewed concerns over the interest rate outlook, according to the latest residential market survey from RICS. The UK Residential Market Survey from the chartered surveyor body shows a housing market still struggling for momentum, with renewed geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty weighing on buyer sentiment and near-term expectations. While some surveyors […]
‘Impossible for LSB to meet objectives’, Legal Services Consumer Panel warns
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has shared its critical response to the Ministry of Justice’s review of the Legal Services Board, claiming its “fragmented and outdated regulatory design” make it impossible to meet its statutory objectives. The Panel – an independent arm of the Legal Services Board – says the LSB is constrained by the […]
SMEs would bear the brunt of proposals to fund access to justice through client accounts – CILEX
Small to medium sized law firms could be unfairly and disproportionately penalised under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to redistribute interest from client accounts to fund access to justice, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) claims. The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) would represent a “further tax and compliance burden which could […]
Referral scheme aims to put clients in touch with non-UK legal professionals
A new referral scheme aims to provide lawyers with access to vetted expertise in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The scheme – known as J-Law – has been launched by Judicare Law International, a UK-based, SRA-regulated law firm. The model is similar to that used by Connect2Law, the popular referral scheme launched by Simon […]
Separating compliance roles ‘complex and impractical’ Law Society says in client money consultation response
Proposals which would insist on separate post holders for roles of Compliance Office for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Senior Reporting Officer (SRO) amongst other compliance-related roles in law firms are ‘complex and impractical’ say the Law Society in their response to the Solicitors Regulation […]