MoJ client account interest consultation premise ‘fundamentally flawed’, says conveyancing membership body
The underlying premise to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) consultation on using client account interest to fund access to justice is “fundamentally flawed”, says the Conveyancing Association; a membership body representing the top 200 solicitors and licensed conveyancers by volume in England and Wales. Proposals to introduce an Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) scheme […]
Temporary recruitment page launched for those affected by PM Law closure
Today’s Conveyancer has launched a temporary recruitment page to list conveyancing roles for those affected by the closure of PM Law and its subsidiaries. The Sheffield-based firm closed on Monday leaving its 650 staff seeking new employment. Speaking to Today’s Conveyancer, employees explained they were told not to come into the office on Monday, or […]
Silence from Sheffield firm following widespread office closures
A Sheffield law firm and its subsidiaries appears to ceased trading with notices placed on office doors and former employees taking to social media to advise of their availability for work. In a widely shared image on social media Butterworths Solicitors in Carlisle placed a notice on its front door on the morning of 2nd […]
Research reveals property transactions now averaging 123 days
A new report reveals that property transactions took longer in 2025 than the previous year, with instruction-to-completion times averaging over 17 weeks (123 days). The report, An industry aligned: Moving towards certainty, underlines that this equates to an 18% increase since 2019 and a 64% increase since 2007. Consumers say that their ideal time from […]
UK Finance drops plans to charge conveyancers for using Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
UK Finance will no longer proceed with plans to charge conveyancers £50 to access the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook, following a widespread backlash from the industry and what conveyancing bodies said were “frantic” behind-the-scenes discussions. “Following further engagement with our members and users of the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook, we have decided to retain the current approach […]
Property sector reacts to draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill
The government released its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill last week, and the property industry has shared some very mixed reactions. The government said the bill is a “game-changing shake up” of the leasehold system – but some housing market experts disagree. Yesterday, Today’s Conveyancer shared reactions from conveyancing bodies and leasehold campaigners. While […]
Transaction times could be halved without the need for government or regulatory intervention, report finds
A new report estimates property transaction timescales could be drastically reduced without the need for major home buying and selling reform or legislative change. The current timescales of 126 days from mortgage application to completion could be halved, the Future Property Transaction (FPT) Group suggests, if the market were able to operate at the speed […]
Conveyancers coming back? Licence renewals suggest so
There could be more conveyancers coming into the profession than leaving, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) suggested at their latest Futures Roundtable. Figures revealed at the event showed more people qualifying and fewer leaving the profession in 2025. The exodus from the profession has been widely reported: according to data from the Law Society, […]
Finalists for the British Conveyancing Awards 2026 announced
The finalists for the British Conveyancing Awards 2026, sponsored by Groundsure, have been published this morning, with 61 different organisations recognised for their commitment to excellence and client service. The winners will be announced live at a gala dinner hosted at the iconic Manchester Cathedral on 12 March. The awards were first hosted as a […]
Conveyancing paralegal banned from legal work, fee earner supervisor cleared
A conveyancing paralegal has been barred from working in legal practice, with her “deliberate dishonesty” cited as the aggravating feature, whilst her fee earner line manager has been cleared of any wrongdoing. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that solicitor Joanne Elizabeth Tappin and paralegal Ria Lakhani, then at Mackrell Solicitors, were alleged to have made […]
Barriers to home ownership are easing, with Gen Z buyers most optimistic, Barclays report finds
The latest Property Insights report from Barclays suggests traditional barriers to homeownership are easing, indicated by smaller deposits, consistent demand for more affordable properties, and a growing preference for higher loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages. The research also reveals that a third (34%) of those in the Gen Z age group questioned for the report hope to […]
LMS announced as pre- and post-event sponsor at the British Conveyancing Awards – tickets available now
The British Conveyancing Awards is delighted to announced conveyancing technology platform LMS as the sponsor of the pre- and post-awards events, which will be held in Manchester on 12 March. The awards, which see the return of environmental data and property due diligence search provider Groundsure as headline sponsor, recognise and celebrate the work of […]
Zoopla analysis finds ‘strong rebound in buyer demand’
New analysis from property website Zoopla has revealed strong buyer demand across the country, although the property portal says market conditions vary across the regions. “After a sluggish end to 2025 it is positive to see a strong rebound in buyer demand over the first weeks of the year across all parts of the country,” […]
High Court test case rules WhatsApp messages are not legal signatures in transfer of property
A High Court judge in a test case involving a dispute over the ownership of property belonging to a former husband and wife has ruled WhatsApp messages are not legally binding signatures in the transfer of property. In Maxine Reid-Roberts & Anor v Hsiao Mei-Lin & Anor, Mr Justice Cawson did not consider WhatsApp messages […]
Optimistic start to the year for RICS, as ‘housing market finds its feet’
The latest UK Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) sees the year start on an optimistic note, with members reporting “significantly more positive” near-term and 12-month sales expectations. Although the UK housing market remained “soft” at the end of 2025, RICS members report a return of confidence along with positive […]
CLC seeks views on market confidence in first tracker survey of 2026
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has launched its first Quarterly Confidence Tracker for 2026 and is seeking views from the sector. The regulator is running the survey to gauge the current state of the market for home buyers and sellers and establish how it’s changing over time. The CLC is particularly keen to hear view […]
Conveyancing sector responds to home buying reforms
With the government’s consultations on home buying reform and material information coming to an end, organisations within the conveyancing sector have shared their responses. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) backs plans to regulate estate agents, and says failure to do so risks undermining the reforms. All key players within the conveyancing process must “have […]
MoJ sets out plans to fund justice system with interest on client accounts
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of greatest need”, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. The Interest on Lawyers’ Clients Accounts Scheme (ILCA) will see […]
Conveyancing Foundation raises £1.3m for charity, with new initiatives planned for 2026
The Conveyancing Foundation celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2025, a decade in which the organisation achieved its objective of enhancing the lives of those working in the property industry – and raised £1.3 million for charitable causes. In the coming year, the foundation aims to emulate and surpass its success, guided by co-chairs Rob […]
Legal GiGZ launches ‘world first’ global directory of business of law conferences and events
Legal GiGZ, which claims to be the world’s first comprehensive directory of ‘business of law’ conferences and events, has launched a platform bringing together over 260 legal industry events across more than 40 countries. Founded by Shaun Jardine, a former law firm CEO and managing partner with over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector, […]