Fall in demand ‘a temporary blip’ as market remains resilient
Buyer demand fell by 2.7% year-on-year in October, but the figures reflect ‘a temporary blip’ caused by exceptionally high activity in 2024, according to the latest data from TwentyEA. Falling interest rates in October last year triggered a rush of transactions ahead of the 30 October budget, TwentyEA pointed out, but the current demand/supply ratio […]
Host for British Conveyancing Awards 2026 confirmed as entry deadline nears
The host for next year’s British Conveyancing Awards has been confirmed as impressionist, comedian and actor Jon Culshaw. Culshaw is a master of comedic guise, and widely regarded as Britain’s best impressionist. An accomplished actor, comedian and voiceover artist, he has appeared in Spitting Image, Dead Ringers, The Sky at Night, Horrible Histories and C4’s […]
Client due diligence platform Thirdfort exceeds three million downloads
Client due diligence platform Thirdfort has exceeded three million downloads since its launch in 2019, with know-your-client, anti-money laundering and source of funds checks carried out on behalf of over 1,500 regulated firms. The milestone marks the platform’s growing role in helping to protect regulated firms from fraud and money laundering, Thirdfort says, with its […]
Communities don’t engage with planning decisions, RTPI report finds
Whilst almost a third of people believe their local area is in decline, fewer than one in 10 have taken action to help shape its future, says new research from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The findings show a stark disconnect between how communities feel about their local area, and the steps being taken […]
Team behind What House? Awards launch ceremony for conveyancing sector
Globespan Media, the company behind the long-running What House? Awards, has launched a ceremony to celebrate excellence in conveyancing. The Conveyancing Awards will be held on 14 May at The Londoner hotel, bringing together experts from conveyancing firms, legal practices, house builders, PropTech companies and the wider property sector. The awards will open for entries […]
House price inflation slows, but buyer demand ‘holds up well’
The UK House Price Index for September reveals a 0.6% fall in house prices from August, with an annual price increase of 2.6% – down from 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2025. Between August 2025 and September 2025, UK transactions decreased by 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis. But with the news that […]
Falling inflation ‘shot of confidence’ for the housing market
The latest consumer price inflation figures from the ONS reveal the UK inflation rate has fallen by 0.2% to 3.6% in October, offering a boost to the housing market amid news of a slowdown in house prices. The figures were met with widespread relief by property industry figures, with many saying the news justified the […]
Rebuke for Whitehaven firm that failed to return residual balances for almost 10 years
A Whitehaven firm has been sanctioned for incorrectly retaining residual balances for almost 10 years, with one balance worth over £50,000. Brockbank Curwen Cain & Hall Limited was investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2020, after the firm’s accountants report for the accounting period ending June 2020 was qualified, with one of the qualifications […]
Social housing providers are set to miss the government’s energy efficiency deadline by two years
Private Registered Providers (PRPs), including housing associations, charities and some for-profit companies, won’t complete upgrading all their homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above until 2032, according to the latest figures from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and analysis by global real estate company JLL. RSH data show the […]
Law Society unveils artwork to honour 200 years of legal service
The Law Society of England and Wales has unveiled the artworks it commissioned to mark 200 years of supporting solicitors, created by celebrated British artist and Turner Prize winner Helen Cammock. ‘A People’s Practice’ is a suite of three art works installed at the Law Society’s Chancery Lane building in London. Each piece invites reflection […]
‘Two-tier system for first-time buyers’, as one in five have 40% deposit
Data from moneyfactscompare.co.uk reveals almost one in five (17%) first-time buyers are seeking mortgages with a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 60%, which would require a deposit of around £110,000 for an averagely priced home. The figures ‘shine a light on the growing divide in the first-time buyer market’, according to NAEA Propertymark president Mary-Lou Press, […]
Fewer than one in 10 would arrange a mortgage without human input
New research from L&G’s Mortgage Club reveals that consumers continue to favour personal interaction when arranging a mortgage, despite the rising popularity of digital tools for day-to-day financial management. L&G’s data, released as part of Mortgage Club’s 30th anniversary report ‘Home 2055’, shows that just 7% of consumers would be comfortable using automated tools to […]
Movera creates new KYC team to support conveyancers
The Movera group has created a dedicated Know Your Client (KYC) team to support conveyancers, in response to feedback from fee earners. The new team will manage all source of funds processing across the group’s two legal practices, ONP Solicitors and Cavendish Legal Group. It will be led by Natalie Brown, deputy money laundering reporting officer (MLRO) at Movera […]
Government shares roadmap for implementation of Renters’ Rights Act
The government has shared its roadmap for implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act legislation, with the first tranche of reforms, including a ban on no-fault evictions, coming into force on 1 May 2026. Further changes to be implemented in May include the prevention of rent rises more than once a year, asking for more than […]
FCA chief outlines vision for mortgage market and calls for ‘bold shifts’ to meet changing needs
FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi has shared his vision for the mortgage market of the future, suggesting interest-only mortgages, low-start lending and pension advances could all help groups who struggle to access lending get on the property ladder. Speaking at the 30th anniversary conference of the L&G Mortgage Club, Rathi called for ‘bold-shifts’ to meet […]
Budget continues to cast a shadow over ‘hesitant’ housing market, Rightmove says
05Speculation about the contents of the upcoming autumn budget is fueling uncertainty across the housing market, with property tax rumours triggering a drop in sales, Rightmove says. Average new seller asking prices fell by 1.8% in October, a larger than usual November drop Rightmove attributes to the budget hiatus and a decade-high number of homes […]
Advisory Working Group launches conveyancing forum to explore industry issues
The new Advisory Working Group (AWG) formed by Bold Legal Group to respond to the government’s home buying and selling proposals has launched an online forum for conveyancers. AWG was created to respond to the government’s consultations, but Bold Legal Group says the forum offers a place for conveyancers to discuss ‘the real, day-to-day issues’ […]
‘Commonhold is coming’ – conveyancers urged to prepare ahead of consultation
Commonhold tenure is on the government’s agenda and a preferred method by which shared new build property is to be registered as plans to phase out leasehold intensify. Speaking at the annual Society of Licensed Conveyancers conference in Derby, Commonhold lead at Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government Matt Prior said progress was being […]
Freeholders appeal High Court decision on leasehold reform, triggering fears of long delays
The Commons Housing Committee has confirmed freeholders have applied to appeal last month’s High Court decision rejecting their challenge to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA). Leasehold experts have warned the move could delay the implementation of LAFRA by more than three years, and urged the government to take swift action to ensure […]
Credas joins OPDA in support of ‘transparent and trusted’ housing market
Digital identity verification provider Credas has joined the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), saying they are looking forward to playing a role in creating a more transparent housing market. Credas provides digital services to conveyancers and estate agents, including ID and AML checks, financial evidence gathering and identification of high risk customers. The Cardiff-based company says […]