Challenger, collaborator, or both? From South Africa to the suburbs
From South Africa to the suburbs… the latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcomes property market digital transformation specialists e4 Strategic on to discuss the property market evolution achieved in their native South Africa, and how they are now looking at what can be done to introduce similar initiatives in the UK. Joining podcast host David Opie […]
The UK’s unsustainable conveyancing system demands coordinated reform
Joe Pepper, UK CEO of conveyancing platform PEXA, explains why the ever-increasing burden on conveyancers is unsustainable without meaningful reform. Early projections suggest the UK housing market is poised for a resurgence this year, challenging the prevailing narrative of stagnation. For consumers hoping to enter or progress within the property market, this offers a […]
SDLT, registration and the case for role separation
SDLT specialist Compass explains why HMRC’s upcoming requirements for conveyancers to register as tax advisers fundamentally shifts the landscape of the service. For years, SDLT has sat in an uncomfortable space for law firms. It is routinely handled as part of conveyancing, often described as administrative, and frequently excluded from engagement letters as tax […]
A first look at the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill
Property law specialist Ricky Allen, senior associate at Houldsworth Solicitors, breaks down the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and explores what it means for conveyancers. I woke up on the morning the bill was released to find quite a few WhatsApp messages on my phone. Some were from family members, some from colleagues at […]
Profile: Vicki Redman, head of knowledge and training for Swiitch
Vicki Redman is head of knowledge and training for Swiitch, the conveyancing brand of Shoosmiths LLP. She is also the founder and author of GRACE (Guidance for Raising Appropriate Conveyancing Enquiries). Vicki has over 25 years of conveyancing experience and won Conveyancing Support Team Member of the Year at the British Conveyancing Awards 2024. […]
Property tax reform is not just a policy tool – it’s essential for economic growth
Nathan Emerson, CEO of estate agent body Propertymark, explains why well-designed property tax reform is not simply a housing policy tool, but an effective lever for broader economic growth. Forecasts of modest house price growth in 2026, alongside falling mortgage rates, point towards a housing market that is beginning to stabilise, offering renewed hope […]
Make time to talk about anxiety with LawCare
This Time to Talk Day, on 5 February, let’s make time to talk about mental health at work, so no one feels they have to cope with anxiety or other challenges alone. Talking openly and honestly about mental health in the workplace can help reduce stigma, ensure people feel less isolated, and make it easier […]
How large law firms are responding to compliance pressure
In the final instalment of our three-part series exploring compliance for law firms of all sizes, Legl product marketing manager Rick Jakubowski explains how large law firms, with more than 100 employees, should manage compliance. Large firms (101+ employees) are in a unique position when it comes to compliance. On the one hand, they […]
The impact of government changes on the property market
Sarah Barnes, head of residential conveyancing at law firm Napthens, looks at the housing market in 2026 and examines the impact of changes to sellers’ obligations and the upcoming mansion tax. As we start move through January and into 2026, the theme of cautious confidence appears to be taking over. However, it’s still early days […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Before telling the chain I’m holding it up, please undertake to learn the process
Enquiries are the thing that really irritate me – despite courses and articles on which enquiries should not be asked, we continue to get questions about plans and identity. And one thing that infuriates me is the number of times I ask for the buyers’ full names for the contract in my initial letter, and […]
Review of the year: What did the final quarter property numbers tell us?
In the first of the regular series with Rob Gurney and Ben Robinson, Today’s Conveyancer once again delves into the latest numbers from Landmark’s Property Trends report, looking at the final quarter of 2025. In a year of two halves, the first half of 2025 was characterised by strong transaction numbers, driven in part by […]
No calls please, we’re conveyancers
Michelle O’Shea has worked her way up through the ranks of conveyancing, starting out as a legal secretary and progressing to forming her own practice, which she ran for 30 years before retiring last year. Now watching from the sidelines, she has some sage observations and words of advice for the conveyancers still taking calls. […]
Home buying and selling reform and the role of property logbooks
In the first episode of the latest series of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie dives into the fast‑evolving world of digital property logbooks joined by Sally Holdway, director of Homeowners Passport and sale and purchase lead at the Residential Logbook Association (RLBA), and Nigel Walley, CEO of Chimni and chair of the RLBA. […]
A third way for flat ownership: Why leasehold reform doesn’t have to mean commonhold
In this week’s in-depth look at leasehold from the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), Lucy Riley, ALEP member and legal director at Nockolds, explores an alternative to commonhold. The government’s intention to legislate for commonhold as the default tenure for flats marks one of the most significant shifts in residential property law for […]
Profile: Peter Ambrose, managing director of The Partnership
Peter Ambrose is the managing director of The Partnership, a company modernising the conveyancing process. With a legal background and strong technology expertise, he founded the firm to transform traditional residential transactions. Over the past decade, he has built the company into a respected brand with offices in London and Guildford, a team of over […]
Compliance trends for mid-sized law firms
In the second of a three-part series, Rick Jakubowski, product marketing manager at legal tech company Legl, shares compliance insights for medium-sized firms (26-100 employees). In next week’s final instalment, Rick has advice for large firms, with more than 100 employees. Medium firms (26-100 employees) sit at the centre of the legal market’s compliance […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – When a dream home comes with a £10,000 reservation fee
There was quite a lot I wanted to write about today – the world of conveyancing is forever changing and no two days are the same. But then something came across my desk late on Friday afternoon which I believe deserves a mention. A lovely young couple are clients of mine who have agreed to […]
Man on a mission: Why Peter Thompson wants to remove the risk from home selling
Peter Thompson has spent his career managing financial risk. As a founding partner of capital management firm J Rothschild, he spent 26 years helping to build the FTSE 100 company, which employs over 3000 people and handles £180 billion in investment. So when the buyer of his twin sister’s home pulled out after exchanging contracts, […]
Leasehold reform: Which change will actually unlock the market?
In the first of a six-part weekly series from the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), Mark Wilson, ALEP member and director of MyLeasehold, examines the changes that could have an impact on the property market. The government has seen off a High Court challenge from major freeholders over the Leasehold and Freehold Reform […]
Profile: John Coulter, consultant solicitor and founder, ClearPath Consultants
With over 20 years of experience in residential conveyancing, consultant solicitor John Coulter has worked across high-volume firms, boutique practices, and leadership roles. Alongside his legal practice, he advises law firms on operational efficiency, capacity management and sustainable growth, with a particular focus on improving workflow design, client communication and team wellbeing – without increasing […]