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, […]
Michael Day’s Christmas single raises over £2000 for charity
The Christmas single released by Michael Day of Integra Property Services, who celebrated 50 years in the property industry in December, has raised £2,104 for charitable causes. The original song has had over 1500 streams on music channels including Spotify and Apple Music, with the animated video created by Toby Martin enjoying more than 700 […]
Minimise regulatory burdens on conveyancers, Law Society says
The Law Society of England and Wales says it supports home buying and selling reform, but more detail about the government’s proposals is needed, and regulatory burdens on conveyancers should be reduced. In its responses to the government’s consultations on the reforms, which were informed by “extensive consultation” with members, the Law Society said the […]
Conveyancing Association ‘has made clear its support’ for home buying reform – with key safeguards
The Conveyancing Association (CA) says it has “made clear its support” for home buying and selling reform in its responses to the government’s consultations, but warns key safeguards are essential to protect consumers and ensure conveyancing firms can operate sustainably. Safeguards include the need for clearer and earlier provision of property information, but with firm […]
Conveyancer calls for caution around AI usage
A Cheshire-based residential conveyancing specialist is calling for caution as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prominent in property law. Chris Illingworth, partner and head of the conveyancing department at Watsons Solicitors in Warrington (pictured), admits the technology can produce instant results and support efficiency, but says its accuracy is questionable and should not replace professional […]
Rightmove reports busiest ever Boxing Day with 143% increase in listings
Rightmove has recorded the busiest ever Boxing Day for visits to its platform, with the five days after Christmas seeing a 67% increase in the number of enquiries sent to estate agents and a 143% increase in the number of properties listed for sale compared to the five days before Christmas Day. Visits to the […]
Law Society asks government to clarify rules regarding use of AI in legal sector
The Law Society of England Wales has asked the government to clarify how AI can be used in legal services while upholding professional standards and public trust. Writing in response to a call for evidence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in relation to its proposed AI Growth Lab, The Law Society […]
Government must do more to standardise home buying technology, Thirdfort founders say
The founders of online client due diligence platform Thirdfort say the government needs to go further to ensure that technology that can revolutionise identity, AML and source of funds (SoF) verification in the home moving process. Olly Thornton-Berry and Jack Bidgood say the government “rightly identifies” the role technology can play, but that they would […]
Number of people taking out ultra-long mortgages triples in five years
Sales of mortgages with terms of more than 35 years have tripled in the last five years, topping 116,000 in 2024 and reaching over 93,000 in the first three quarters of 2025. An analysis of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) data by Compare the Market found the popularity of the longer-term mortgages has steadily increased over […]
Mortgage approvals down, but conditions indicate ‘strong spring selling season’
The latest Money and Credit Report from the Bank of England reveals net mortgage approvals for house purchase, an indicator of future borrowing, fell by 500 to 64,500 in November. Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased to £4.5 billion, following a decrease of £1 billion to £4.2 billion in October. The annual growth […]
Conveyancing experts give evidence to Affordability of Home Ownership inquiry – watch live
The government’s inquiry into the affordability of home ownership will continue hearing oral evidence today, with contributions from the Conveyancing Association’s Beth Rudolf, PEXA UK CEO Joe Pepper, and Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark. The Portcullis House meeting will be streamed live, with Rudolf – speaking in her capacity as co-chair […]
Estate agents must be held to same high standards as conveyancers or reforms will fail, warns CLC
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has backed plans to regulate estate agents as part of major reforms to the home buying and selling process. The specialist regulator said failure to do so risks undermining the reforms, which the government has proposed in a bid to improve the current system where £400 million per year […]
CILEX calls for stronger regulation of high-volume conveyancing sector to support homebuying reforms
Stronger regulation of the high-volume, low-value conveyancing sector will be required to ensure the success of reforms aimed at improving the speed and efficiency of the conveyancing process, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) says. A review into the current fee structure for conveyancing work is also needed to ensure that quality of advice […]
New home planning permission at 15-year low, as HBF warns of ‘viability crisis’
Planning permission was granted for just 42,000 new homes in England during the third quarter of 2025, a 34% drop on the same quarter the previous year and the lowest quarterly total since 2012. The overall number of units approved during the first nine months of 2025 – 146,798 – was 25% lower than a […]
Brachers completes acquisition of Gill Turner Tucker following Lawfront deal
Kent law firm Brachers has completed the acquisition of fellow Kent firm Gill Turner Tucker. The acquisition comes a year after Brachers’ partnership with private equity-backed Lawfront, in a deal which took the national group of regional law firms past £100 million revenue. The acquisition brings together two firms with deep roots in Kent: Gill […]
RLBA calls on government to empower homeowners in property data revolution
The Residential Logbook Association (RLBA), the self-regulatory body for property logbook providers, has called on the government to be more ambitious in its aspirations for property data and to empower homeowners to take control of their property’s data. In its response to the government’s home buying and selling consultation, which closed on 29th December, the […]
Thank you for reading and happy holidays!
Today’s Conveyancer is a labour of love for the Today’s Media team; we genuinely adore what we do and feel privileged to bring you the daily news, views, insight and best practice from across the conveyancing profession. Over the past 12 months we’ve brought you the ups and downs of the property market through our […]
Time to exchange now 123 days – up two days in a year
The average time to exchange in the UK is now 123 days, or 4.1 months, new data from property analytics company TwentyCi has revealed. After a reaching a peak of 4.3 months in 2022, the average time taken to exchange dropped to four months in 2023 and 2024. The time has now crept back up to […]
Leasehold campaigners ‘deeply disappointed’ by govt failure to act on reform
The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) said it is “deeply disappointed” that the government has failed to publish the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill prior to Christmas. Leaseholders face yet another Christmas in limbo, the campaigners said, left in the dark and “facing uncertainty that is both crippling and disheartening.” Linz Darlington, managing director of lease […]
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 […]