Landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill becomes law
The landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which the government says is at the heart of its plans to build 1.5 million new homes, has received Royal Assent. The “seismic” planning reforms contained within the act will remove blockages and delays in the planning system to accelerate the construction of tens of thousands of new homes […]
Conveyancing Task Force urges govt to adopt ‘legally sound’ reforms following MHCLG meeting
The Conveyancing Task Force (CTF), a group of conveyancers and law firms formed in response to the governments proposed home buying and selling reforms, has issued a comprehensive response to the consultation on reforms, which was submitted following a meeting with representatives from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The CTF says […]
Mazur response a key focus for CILEx Regulation, as it sets out 2026 corporate plan
CILEx Regulation Limited (CRL) has set out its priorities for the coming year, and said its focus will be on securing litigation rights for legal executives following “the massive upset” caused by the Mazur judgment. Writing in its 2026 plan, the regulator said it had been “working tirelessly to communicate with the regulated communities, Stakeholders, […]
Bank Rate cut ‘will spur buyer demand”
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 3.75%. Monetary policy is being set to ensure CPI inflation settles sustainably at 2% in the medium term, the committee said, “which involves balancing the risks around achieving this.” The extent of […]
2025 was strongest for home sales in three years, Zoopla says
Despite budget speculation hitting sales agreed in the last quarter of the year, Zoopla’s latest house price index reveals the housing market has had its strongest year for sales in three years, with a 9% increase in home moves compared to 2024. Stability in mortgage rates and stronger growth in household incomes encouraged more movers, […]
Legal sector value jumps to over £50bn as LSB outlines plans for future regulation
The legal services sector grew from a value of £41.4 billion in 2021 to £52.3 billion by 2024. Private equity investment in the sector has increased significantly, climbing by 42% from £377 million in 2023 and reaching £1.2 billion over the last five years. Satisfaction in the delivery of legal services is improving, as the […]
Law Society ‘strongly opposes’ proposed switch to AML regulation under the FCA
The Law Society of England and Wales has outlined its opposition to proposals to create a Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) for anti-money laundering which would sit under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority. In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the creation of an SPSS as part of her ‘blitz’ on ‘pointless admin’, citing […]
Could falling inflation lead to reduction in Bank of England base rate?
Falling inflation figures published this week could result in the Bank of England taking the decision to reduce the base rate of interest today, according to some commentators. Inflation of 3.2% represents a fall from since the summer of 2025, but remains some way above the Bank of England’s 2% target. However, the fact it […]
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 […]
Lawyers fear AML reforms could endanger legal privilege, poll finds
Three in five (58%) legal professionals informally sampled have expressed concern that proposed AML reforms could affect legal professional privilege. The finding comes from a poll of 204 legal professionals, which was carried out during a webinar hosted by compliance and training providers VinciWorks and Compliance Office. Attendees were discussing the government proposal to significantly reduce […]
Housing secretary proposes ‘significant rewrite’ of planning rules for ‘biggest housebuilding surge in a generation’
Housing secretary Steve Reed has launched a major consultation on a revamped National Planning Policy Framework, in what he said will be “the most significant rewrite of planning rules in more than a decade.” The proposals will enable the building of hundreds of thousands of new homes in the biggest housebuilding surge in a generation, […]
Law Society rejects LeO budget increase; CLC accepts ‘with great reluctance’
With the deadline for responding to the draft business plan and budget of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) now passed, the Law Society of England and Wales and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers have shared their responses to the proposals. In November, the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) published the draft 2026/27 plan and budget, which […]
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 […]
AI conveyancing platform Conveyd raises £2.5m in seed funding, aims to ‘dramatically speed up’ process
A conveyancing platform that aims to “dramatically” speed up the process of buying a home by automating “critical parts of the admin-heavy conveyancing process” has raised £2.5 million in seed funding. The platform combines purpose-built AI with specialist lawyers to handle the complete conveyancing process, from onboarding the home buyer to preparing the case for […]
‘Under-served’ consumers to receive lending boost under new FCA mortgage plans
First-time buyers, the self-employed and later-life lenders could get a step-up onto the housing ladder under plans announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week. The regulator has shared its priorities for reforms to the mortgage market in its Mortgage Rule Review Feedback statement and Roadmap for 2026, which sets out how it plans […]
After a steady 2025, Halifax predicts a housing market of modest growth in 2026
The UK housing market performed broadly in line with expectations over the last year despite fluctuations triggered by stamp duty changes, Halifax says in its end of year review. Although forecasts are uncertain against an unsteady economic backdrop, the lender believes house prices will continue to rise modestly and affordability will ease slightly. As we […]
Cryptocurrency to be regulated under plans to bring it in line with financial services
Cryptocurrency is to become regulated as the government says it plans to make the UK a “global destination for digital assets and attract more investment.” The FCA has launched a consultation on the proposed rules for regulating the sector following the legislation laid out in Parliament on Monday. Cryptocurrency firms will need to register with […]
Property market ‘settling’ and ‘strengthening’, estate agents suggest in latest insight report
There is evidence the usual decline in new property market activity ahead of Christmas started a little earlier this year, ahead of the much anticipated November budget. The uncertainty surrounding tax increases and the potential introduction of stamp duty relief left many prospective home movers waiting to see what the outcome would be, according to […]
SRA targets COLPs and COFAs in latest client money crackdown
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will seek to separate the roles of Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) from ‘individuals that can unilaterally determine or direct significant management decisions’ with law firms, in its latest crackdown. A newly launched client money consultation proposes to separate both roles […]
10,000 fewer property transactions in 2026, UK Finance predicts
The UK Finance Mortgage Market Forecast for 2026 predicts a 1% drop in property transactions, leading to 10,000 fewer transactions than in 2025. Lending for house purchases grew by 22% in 2025, to a total of £176 billion, according to the annual review by the trade association for the finance and banking sector. Next year, […]