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 […]
One in nine new builds in flood risk zones, Aviva research finds
Analysis by the insurer Aviva indicates that one in every nine homes built in England between 2022 and 2024 was in an area classified as having medium or high flood risk. Of the 396,602 new homes logged by the Ordnance Survey during the period, 43,937 properties were at risk of flooding (11%), Aviva’s figures suggest. […]
New note outlines best practice for mandatory and elective climate report content
The Council of Property Search Organisations has published a new compliance note which sets mandatory standards for climate searches for property search organisations who subscribe to the Search Code. CoPSO was founded in 2003 and provides guidance and a ‘self-regulatory framework’ for property due diligence data providers under its Code of Practice for Search Compilers […]
Climate risk compliance note outlines data providers’ duty of care to conveyancers
A trade body for search and property data providers has released a compliance note on climate risk reporting to members, outlining clear definitions of data currently used in climate reports, minimum service standards and expectations for how members will maintain and refine the data “in accordance with the evolving market and stakeholder requirements”. The Conveyancing […]
‘Rooftop revolution’ as government commits £15bn to better insulate homes
The government says it will “unleash a rooftop revolution” as part of efforts to install energy efficient home heating solutions in up to five million properties, in a bid to tackle long term energy costs and lift people out of fuel poverty. The prime minister has announced £15 billion of funding for home upgrades […]
Government launches consultations on rentcharges and mandatory adoption on private estates
Two consultations on reforms to leasehold and private estate management have been launched as the government puts the hastily passed Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 into action. Earlier this year, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) raised the issue of a ‘double whammy’ for homebuyers on private estates, with many new build developments passing the […]
Green credentials increasingly used as selling points for property sales despite limited progress on energy efficiency initiatives
Efforts to prepare the UK’s housing stock for the future appear to be falling on deaf ears, as home owners and landlords do little to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Property portal Rightmove has analysed 17 million EPC certificates and almost 30 million property listings from over the last decade. In 2015, 29% of […]
Lords committee criticises unacceptable BSA delays that are ‘significantly longer’ than statutory target
A House of Lords Committee investigating delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) approval processes has been applauded by lawyers representing clients affected by buildings with dangerous and unsafe cladding. The Industry and Regulators Committee’s report says the delays to leaseholders unable to sell homes in buildings affected by unsafe cladding are unacceptable. “There […]
Report warns of housing stock health emergency, as retrofit expert slams ‘damaging’ budget cut to £1.3bn upgrade scheme
A cross-party think tank says the UK is risking a health emergency without changes to the housing stock, as the climate becomes more unpredictable. The Homes without Harm report from the Housing Commission of public policy research centre Radix Big Tent said its ‘overarching message’ to government was to look at the explicit link between […]
Millions of homes at risk of flooding and subsidence, Aviva warns
Aviva has warned millions of homes are at risk of surface water flooding and subsidence, with some of the UK’s most well-known landmarks at risk from the impacts of extreme weather if urgent action isn’t taken. The insurer’s latest Building Future Communities report analyses the latest data to outline the risks homes could face from […]
Building on the green belt: The hidden planning risks facing East Anglia’s conveyancers
Across England, the debate over developing on green belt land is growing, and East Anglia is no exception. As local authorities contend with housing demand and land shortages, developers are increasingly targeting protected areas as possible sites for expansion. For conveyancers, this shift introduces new layers of planning and environmental risks that require careful consideration. […]
From future threat to present reality: How location data is redefining risk in conveyancing
With the UK facing increasingly unpredictable weather, there is an urgent need for the property sector to adapt. Climate risk is no longer a distant threat – it’s a present-day reality increasingly affecting real estate. The impact is not just being felt through flooding, rising sea levels, overheating homes or subsidence, but through transition risks […]
Government environmental reforms ‘will break planning system gridlock’
The government has announced a series of environmental planning reforms to accelerate infrastructure delivery and homebuilding while safeguarding the environment. The reforms will be backed by a £500 million budget, which includes funding for the government’s flagship Nature Restoration and Marine Recovery Fund schemes and funding to build capacity in the planning system. ‘This will […]
SLC issues new climate change client guide
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has issued a new client guide on the effects of climate change, which it says will help conveyancing clients to help source information and expert advice. The guide follows the release of the Law Society’s recent practice note, which outlines the expectations on property lawyers when it comes to […]
Bristol tops list of England’s knotweed hotspots
An online heatmap from invasive plant specialist Environet shows that Bristol holds the dubious title of Japanese knotweed capital of England. Data from the online tracker has revealed the south-west city has 33.91 incidences of the dreaded weed per square mile, followed by Merseyside with 11.87 and Greater London with 7.74. With over 100,000 sightings […]
How is climate change and flood risk impacting the property market?
Over the weekend, parts of Kent experienced catastrophic flash flooding following an intense overnight thunderstorm with more than 30,000 lightening strikes recorded across the UK. In Dover, homes and businesses were impacted by a sudden increase in surface water, causing intense localised flooding. Emergency services were deployed throughout the night, the local hospital urged patients […]
Government to spend £8 billion on flood protection for homes
The government has announced details of ‘the largest flood defence investment programme in history’, with £7.9 billion earmarked to protect ‘hundreds of thousands of homes, small businesses and vital infrastructure’. The 10-year programme will deliver high-performance flood barriers and nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration to offer long-term protection from flooding. Every £1 spent on […]
Solar panels to be fitted as standard on all new homes in ‘rooftop revolution’
The government has confirmed ‘the vast majority’ of new-build homes will be fitted with rooftop solar panels as default. Further proposals, which will be included in the Future Homes Standard to be published in the Autumn, include the installation of low-carbon heating such as heat pumps. Building regulations will be amended to explicitly promote solar […]
Clarity and confidence: Landmark’s perspective on the Law Society’s Climate Change Practice Note
Following the publication of the Law Society’s Climate Change and Property Practice Note on 12 May 2025, the Conveyancing Information Executive (CIE) issued a clear and helpful statement outlining what this guidance means – and crucially, what it doesn’t. What the Practice Note means for conveyancers There have been understandable concerns in the market about the potential for […]