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. […]
Local authorities holding £9bn in unspent developer funds, HBF says
A freedom of information request by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has revealed local authorities in England and Wales are sitting on over £9 billion of developer contributions paid as part of planning agreements for new housing developments. The “ongoing failure” of local government to use the money is undermining support for new housing and […]
Upsizers account for 70% of market as affordability improves
Homeowners trading up to more expensive properties made up 70% of simultaneous sellers and buyers in the first quarter of 2026, according to property data platform reallymoving – the highest proportion in nearly five years. The company attributes the steady resurgence in upsizing activity to a gradual easing in borrowing costs which have made it […]
Welsh home buyers want lead pipes to be included in surveys
Prospective home buyers in Wales want to see greater transparency about lead in homes in pre-sale surveys, according to a national survey by WaterSafe. The UK register of approved plumbers found that 82% of 2,000 homeowners surveyed in Wales believe it is important for house surveys to include checks for lead pipes, with 42% saying […]
HMRC tax adviser rules ‘disproportionate’ and risk ‘serious unintended consequences’ – Conveyancing Association
The Conveyancing Association has criticised the proposed HMRC SDLT changes which propose to require conveyancing firms to register as tax advisers, saying they are “disproportionate” and risk “serious unintended consequences for firms and consumers alike”. In a statement released yesterday, Nicky Heathcote, The Conveyancing Association’s non-executive chair, said the organisation’s position remains clear and called for […]
Mortgage figures show a strong 2025 but slow start to 2026
New mortgage figures released by UK Finance and the Bank of England reveal strong growth for lending in 2025, followed by a reduction in January of this year. The Household Finance Review for Q4 2025 from UK Finance shows a 16% increase in mortgage lending – the highest level since 2021. But Bank of England […]
Legal group AIIC passes 1,000 consultants as platform business continues to grow
AIIC Group, the legal platform business behind law firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, had 1,009 fee-earning legal consultants operating across its brands at the end of 2025, according to figures released by the company. The total number of individuals working under AIIC’s consultancy programme stood at 1,485 at the end of 2025, […]
Ward Hadaway strengthens team with 44 new appointments
Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed 44 new legal specialists across the north of England over the last five months. The new starters include partners, directors, managing associates, trainee solicitors and paralegals, which the firm says is “strengthening teams at multiple levels of the business and supporting sustained client demand across core […]
New property appointments at Anthony Collins and Rowlinsons
Birmingham social purpose law firm Anthony Collins has appointed two legal directors and two senior associates, and in Cheshire, Rowlinsons Solicitors has appointed “widely known” Tim Jordan as a consultant solicitor, adding 40 years of legal experience to its property team. Kelly McDonnell joins the team at Anthony Collins as legal director and head of […]
January transaction numbers ‘no indicator of current market conditions’
The latest property market transaction figures published by HMRC are not reflective of the current market conditions and represent the last of the hangover from the uncertainty created by the autumn budget and the run up to the traditional December slowdown, property sector experts have said. The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of […]
National Conveyancing Month 2026 kicks off – watch now and get involved today
National Conveyancing Month kicks off today with a welcome message from founders Rob Hailstone, CEO of the Bold Legal Group, and David Opie, managing director of Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Conveyancer. National Conveyancing Month is an extension of the former National Conveyancing Week with on and offline events throughout March designed to raise […]
HMLR confirms action for those impacted by PM Law closure
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has confirmed it is taking action to support the home movers and conveyancers impacted by the sudden closure of PM Law earlier this month by contacting outstanding applications and publishing responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs). The Sheffield-based law firm, along with some 20+ affiliates entities, closed suddenly at the start […]
UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, with residential conveyancing worth £2.5bn
The UK legal services sector increased by 6.1% in 2025, according to the latest legal services market report from IRN Legal Reports. The total estimated value of the market last year was £55.5 billion, with residential conveyancing accounting for £2.5 billion. The largest segment in the consumer legal services market was in personal injury or […]
Treasury losing out on half a billion in SDLT revenues as a result of fall throughs, Rightmove claims
Fall throughs could be costing the property economy as much as £900 million in lost estate agency fees and tax revenue, according to research by property portal Rightmove. The figure does not include lost conveyancing fees, or the wider spend on white goods and soft furnishings associated with moving home. The figure is based on […]
CHAPS times extended as Bank of England works toward 24/7 settlement
The Bank of England has confirmed it will extend the operating hours of the high value payments system CHAPS from its current core operating hours of 6am to 6pm, as efforts to operate settlement on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis continue to move forward. Following a 2025 consultation paper on […]
OPDA signs memorandums of understanding with the Legal Software Suppliers Association and the Conveyancing Association
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) and The Conveyancing Association to promote closer collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the property sector. The MoU sets out shared commitments to advance the digital transformation of the home buying and selling process encourage the use of […]
Proptech firm Coadjute appoints Phil Spencer as ambassador in fight against money laundering
Proptech firm Coadjute has appointed property broadcaster Phil Spencer as an ambassador to help bring attention to the risks of money laundering. Coadjute, which provides a digital platform from property transaction workflows, says it has made a “major strategic shift” towards anti-money laundering compliance, and has positioned the fight against financial crime at the heart […]
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 […]
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 […]
Record investment in legal tech and artificial intelligence solutions
Investment in UK legal tech rose to record levels in 2025, with backing for companies specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) “surging”, according to figures published today by LawtechUK. The newly published figures from the Ministry of Justice backed initiative, which provides funding and incubation for law tech start-ups, suggest a 35% increase in legal technology […]