Rebuilding trust in referral partnerships: Why the conveyancing industry needs a reset
The recent Panorama investigation into conditional selling has reignited a much-needed conversation in our industry. For years, there have been concerns about how referral arrangements are handled between estate agents and legal professionals, and now, the spotlight is firmly on practices that compromise client choice and transparency. The programme revealed dubious sales tactics at two of […]
Why culture is the true driver of commercial success
When I reflect on the past four years, I don’t just think about the growth figures, though they matter. I think about the people behind them. Setting up a new region from scratch, bringing nearly 500 brokers on board, and building trusted relationships—these outcomes weren’t delivered by process alone. They were built by a team […]
Leasehold reforms are causing upheaval: Here’s how conveyancers should respond
Implementation of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, one of the largest ever changes to the way conveyancers and landlords operate in this area, is underway. The first stages of the bill have been implemented, with others coming down the track. Consultation on measures to strengthen leaseholder protections over charges and services and regulation of […]
‘An issue since the 1970s’ – Eddie Goldsmith responds to Smoove’s conveyancing research
Having previously set up and run one of the biggest conveyancing practices in the UK, I set up YouConvey four years ago to address exactly the issues raised in this article. I am delighted to add my comments and observations on what is unfortunately a running sore for the conveyancing industry and has been a […]
Happy non-18th birthday to Home Information Packs!
There are at least two dates in my life I’ll never forget: 1st August 2007, and 28th July 2007. The first marked the official launch of Home Information Packs (HIPs), a policy shift that had the potential to modernise the conveyancing process. The second was the day I got married. When the HIPs commencement date […]
Conveyancing under the microscope: Why AML failures are no longer just a technicality
It’s no secret that conveyancers have found themselves in the crosshairs of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) recently. We have seen a raft of fines handed down over the past few months making it crystal clear to us that anti-money laundering (AML) compliance isn’t a ‘back-office’ administrative concern, it’s a front-line regulatory risk. The team […]
What’s happened in the property market so far this year?
In the regular quarterly update looking at the latest statistics from Landmark, Today’s Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Ben Robinson and Rob Gurney of Landmark to pore over the latest Property Trends report covering the second quarter of 2025. This is the first opportunity to review the impact of the stamp duty […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Is LinkedIn becoming nastier?
Is it me or is LinkedIn becoming nastier? What happened to all the #bekind words? All I seem to see on LinkedIn is agents berating conveyancers , conveyancers berating other conveyancers, conveyancers complaining about agents. Is this what we want the public to see? And I had personal experience of this about three weeks ago […]
Have some conveyancers lost the art of taking instructions?
In a profession built on precision, trust, and the clear relay of legal advice, an unsettling trend may be emerging, conveyancers making transaction related decisions without first advising and consulting with their clients. Time and again, conveyancers find themselves deep into a matter, only to hit an infuriating wall, responses from the opposing conveyancer who […]
HM Treasury response to MLR consultation: key changes
Following the government’s admission that anti-money laundering regulations are ‘a major burden’ on professional business services firms, HM Treasury has released a response to the 2024 consultation examining the effectiveness of Money Laundering Regulations. In the foreword to the response, economic secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said the government is ‘confident that these changes […]
How to stabilise the property market: an open letter to Rachel Reeves
Dear Chancellor Reeves, As you prepare your crucial autumn budget, we urge you to deliver measures that will stabilise the property market in the short term while laying foundations for long-term economic resilience and growth. The housing market has been stagnant for much of this year, with developers, investors, and consumers adopting a cautious “wait […]
Five tips for conveyancers when navigating legal professional privilege rules
When it comes to anti-money laundering compliance, conveyancing law firms are increasingly walking a tightrope between legal professional privilege (LPP) and the duty to report suspicious activity. The stakes are high, but the guidance can be confusing. At Teal Compliance, we’ve seen a marked increase in firms asking: ‘Can we rely on client privilege to […]
We don’t recommend private surveys – but what could possibly go wrong?
Let’s start with the formal position- there is no legal requirement for a homebuyer to commission a private survey. Frankly many purchasers still don’t take this step as they erroneously rely on the fact that a mortgage provider has made their own assessment of some kind. Let’s skip the fact that increasingly this involves the […]
Confessions of a cyber conveyancer – “It’s been sold before, so it’ll sell again”
No-one ever said that working in property law is a walk in the park. Unless that park is the Peak District and you’re struggling up the 28% incline of Winnats Pass. In which case, that’s a pretty fair comparison. However, things are about to get a whole lot more difficult, and there’s precious little we […]
Wildfires and conveyancing; immediate damage to long-term consequence
In this episode of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Richard Flemmings, CEO and founder of Map Impact, and Ollie Baldock, Director at Ashfield Solutions. Together, they unpack the Wennington wildfire of July 2022—an event that triggered the London Fire Brigade’s busiest day since World War II—and explore its implications for […]
Conditional selling… do unto others as you would have them do unto you
The recent Panorama investigation into the behaviour of some estate agents has reignited public concern about unethical practices in the property industry. While the revelations have shocked many, the uncomfortable truth is that such behaviour is far from new, and in some cases, it has been quietly embedded in the industry for decades. Nostalgia often […]
Mutually beneficial – how industry and education collaborate for good
In February 2025, Solent Law Clinic launched in Southampton. An ambitious new community project pioneered by Southampton Solent University and national law firm, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, this free initiative serves three important purposes. In the first instance, it provides access to legal advice to those who need it the most. Second, it addresses – and […]
The price of ‘efficiency’: What referral deals don’t say out loud
The recent BBC Panorama investigation into estate agency referral practices brought public attention to a structural issue that conveyancers have understood for years. The programme featured the sale of a residential property where one buyer, who had agreed to use the estate agent’s in-house mortgage and conveyancing services, appeared to be given preferential treatment. Another […]
Mortgage Guarantee Scheme a welcome boost – but the market still needs stability
The Government’s decision to make the mortgage guarantee scheme permanent is a welcome move at a time when home ownership has felt increasingly out of reach for many younger people. As both a professional working closely with the conveyancing sector and a parent to two children in their late 20s who are now considering taking […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Rant Alert… check the protocol forms!
I often mention my wish list for conveyancing but there is one at the moment where I am wishing for it every day and I am getting more and more despondent about it, and finding myself more and more infuriated. So sorry – but here it is: Please, please , please before you send me […]