‘Notable cooling’ across housing market as demand and sales dip pre-budget
The latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey reveals a notable cooling across the UK’s housing market, with buyer demand, sales activity and new instructions all falling further into negative territory. New buyer enquiries recorded a net balance of -24%, down from -21% in September and the weakest reading since April. Survey respondents strongly attribute the […]
Remove barriers to increase home delivery by 56%, SME home builders say
Small and medium-sized home builders say they are being ‘increasingly squeezed out’ by larger developers, and removing tax and regulatory barriers could increase home delivery by 56% – the equivalent of around 35,000 new homes a year. The findings, published in the latest State of Play Report from Close Brothers Property Finance, the Home Builders […]
‘Mathematical impossibility’ for single earners to buy a home in some cities
Single earners are priced out of the property market in many parts of the country, with average earnings and house prices making it impossible to save enough to buy within a lifetime, according to new research. The study from Boon Brokers found it would be a mathematical impossibility for single earners on an average local […]
Rightmove’s AI plans will ‘change the game’ following share drop ‘overreaction’
RBC Capital Markets has criticised what it says was a market overraction to Rightmove’s announcement that profits would be hit by increased investment into AI on Friday, when share prices fell by as much as 28% during trading. ‘We think the market has it wrong’, RBC said in a statement on Tuesday. ‘Rightmove is not […]
New home registrations up for third consecutive quarter
Over 30,000 new homes were registered to be built in the third quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 8%, according to new figures from the National House Building Council (NHBC). In Q3 2025, 30,643 new homes were registered, up from 28,304 in Q3 2024. On a quarterly basis, Q3 saw an increase of 1% […]
Mayors to take lead on Social and Affordable Homes Programme
Mayors outside of London will be given greater influence over the government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, working jointly with Homes England to shape the course of action for affordable housing money in six regions. The Social and Affordable Homes Programme is a £39 billion, 10-year programme (2026-2036) delivered through Homes England (outside […]
Mortgage market slows as buyers pull back amid budget uncertainty
Data from mortgage technology and data company Twenty7tec reveals a continued overall drop in total residential searches, with first time buyer searches experiencing the steepest decline, but an increase in remortgage activity. The slowdown reflects both affordability pressures and a pause for clarity ahead of the upcoming autumn budget, Twenty7tec said. Total residential searches were […]
Solicitors conflicted about client account risks, survey finds
Many UK solicitors believe the risks associated with client accounts have grown in recent years, but are concerned losing control of the accounts would impair their ability to deliver services effectively, according to a new survey. The survey of over 300 solicitors in UK law firms, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of payment platform Shieldpay, […]
Rising house prices and increase in mortgage approvals ‘indicates resilient demand’
The Halifax House Price Index for October reveals house prices rose by 0.6% – the fastest pace since January – and mortgage approvals have reached their highest level this year, which the building society says indicates resilient demand. The house price growth is the fourth increase in the last five months, taking the average property […]
Ambitious roadmap or covering old ground? Industry reacts to HMLR’s Strategy 2025+
Last week, HM Land Registry set out its ambitions for 2025 and beyond in a strategy it says will deliver better services and create a faster, less stressful property market, centred around the use of data and a push towards digital transformation. Strategy 2025+ commits to a series of key milestones, including the use of […]
Early bird deadline for British Conveyancing Awards 2026 entry tonight
The British Conveyancing Awards returns in 2026 to recognise and celebrate the work of conveyancers up and down the country, at a brand new venue in Manchester. Organised by the publishers of Today’s Conveyancer, the awards welcomes back Groundsure as Headline Sponsor, with entries encouraged from individuals, firms and organisations who play their part in […]
LeO reveals ‘significant rise’ in demand for help, with conveyancing receiving most complaints
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has released its annual complaints data and insight for 2024/25, which reveals an increase in demand for help that has continued to rise significantly in the first half of 2025/26. Residential conveyancing topped the lists of complaints in all areas, including highest volume of complaints accepted, largest incidences of evidence of […]
Property app Survey Shack selected for Geovation Accelerator’s 21st cohort
Property inspection app Survey Shack has been selected as one of six startups for the 21st cohort of the Geovation Accelerator Programme from Ordnance Survey (OS) and HM Land Registry (HMLR). One of three start-ups selected for Geovation’s PropTech track, Survey Shack will benefit from six months of deep-dive conversations around customers, technology, business models, intellectual property, teams […]
Knights appoints Julie Hoy as partner in real estate
Legal and professional services business Knights has strengthened its team in Colchester with the appointment of Julie Hoy as a partner in real estate. A residential development specialist, Hoy has over 20 years of experience and knowledge of the South East property market, regularly working alongside national housebuilders, developers and registered providers to successfully deliver […]
‘Political convenience’ over ‘economic imperative’ to blame, as Chancellor prepares the way for tax rises
In an unusual step, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has done little to quell speculation about upcoming tax increases in a speech in Downing Street. Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have failed in recent days to provide any reassurances the Labour party will stick to its manifesto promise not raise National Insurance […]
Office for Legal Complaints seeks feedback on ‘ambitious’ LeO business plan and budget
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has published the Legal Ombudsman’s draft 2026/27 business plan and budget, marking the final year of its 2024-27 strategy. The ‘ambitious’ plan has been drafted in response to record complaint volumes and sets out ‘a bold agenda for transformation’, the OLC said, adding: “LeO is receiving unprecedented numbers of complaints […]
Law firms urged to ‘act now’ ahead of new Companies House ID rules
Law firms are being urged to prepare for new Companies House rules for mandatory identifiy verification, which come into force on 18th November. Client due diligence platform Thirdfort is warning firms not to leave compliance to the last minute, which it says could leave firms and clients open to breaches of the new rules, which […]
LawNet names its firms of the year
SME law network LawNet has named the two firms of the year in its annual awards, which are held to celebrate innovation and success across the organisation’s members. South-west firm Wolferstans LLP was named Law Firm of the Year in the £6 million-plus category, while Nottingham-based Actons received the accolade in the category for firms […]
New consultancy will help law firms adopt technology
A consultancy that will help law firms navigate the world of legal technology has been launched by Tom Lyes, former director of engagement at conveyancing risk management company Lawyer Checker and more recently head of legal and property at tech company Armalytix. Tom Lyes Consultancy (TLC) will help firms to identify and implement the increasingly […]
SRA ‘proud of AML progress’ ahead of FCA handover, as annual report reveals a third of assessed firms were non-compliant
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has released its Anti-Money Laundering Annual Report for 2024-25, a year in which the organisation says it made significant progress in preventing and detecting money laundering. With the government recently announcing the responsibility for overseeing anti-money laundering regulations will pass to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the SRA’s chief executive […]