Confidence in property market slumps amid budget uncertainty, CLC finds
Research from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) reveals confidence in the housing market has fallen to its lowest level this year, which it says is triggered by uncertainty over the impending autumn budget. Three quarters of respondents to the CLC’s quarterly survey, launched at the start of this year to monitor the mood of […]
Standalone litigation rights for CILEx lawyers after fast-tracked application approved
CILEx regulated lawyers will be able to apply for standalone litigation practice rights in the areas of criminal, civil and family litigation after the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved CILEx Regulation’s (CRL) application. Although work to introduce a standalone practice right for litigation began earlier this year, the issue has been brought to a head […]
Housing committee critical of delays to long term housing strategy
Delays in publishing the government’s Long-Term Housing Strategy, first announced in July 2024, have left members of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee ‘deeply disappointed’, with MPs in the dark over how the government plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029. The report from the committee is critical of what it describes […]
Chancellor apologises for licensing error, but compliance expert warns ‘strict liability crime has been committed’
The letting agency responsible for managing the privately rented home belonging to Chancellor Rachel Reeves has admitted it failed to apply for the relevant licence required by the local housing authority. But a compliance expert has warned that failure to licence is a strict liability criminal offence that results in significant penalties for ‘hundreds of […]
September net mortgage borrowing highest since March – BoE
The Bank of England’s Money and Credit Report for September showed an increase of net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals of £1.2 billion, to £5.5 – the highest since March 2025. The annual growth rate for net mortgage lending increased to 3.2%, from 3.0% in August, the highest since January 2023 (3.4%). Net mortgage […]
Prices edge up as improved affordability supports demand – Nationwide
The October House Price Index from Nationwide has recorded a slight in house price growth, with annual figures up 2.4% and a month-on-month increase of 0.3%. ‘The housing market has remained broadly stable in recent months, with house prices rising at a modest pace and the number of mortgages approved for house purchase maintained […]
Sellers made average gains of £72,000 over last 18 months, Zoopla finds
New research from Zoopla reveals people selling homes in England and Wales over the last 18 months made an average gain of £72,000, representing a 38% increase on the purchase price. The average time between buying and selling a property was nine years. London sellers walked away with the largest profits, with an average gain […]
Two salaries won’t be enough to get on the property ladder, Twenty7tec warns
An analysis by mortgage data and technology firm Twenty7tec suggests first-time buyers are being priced out of the market, even when average earnings are combined in double-income households. More than half of first-time buyers (59%) earn less than a combined total of £60,000, the analysis finds – well below the amount required to a secure […]
One in three ‘have given up on homeownership’ – BSA
Nearly one in three (29%) people who want to buy a home believe they will never be able to, according to new research from the Building Societies Association (BSA). The BSA’s latest property tracker survey suggests millions of would-be buyers have resigned to a lifetime of renting, blaming affordability challenges. Six in ten (58%) first-time […]
PEXA launches fraud and conveyancing webinar series for Fraud Awareness Week
Conveyancing technology provider PEXA has launched a series of webinars to be run throughout Fraud Awareness Week, to help educate the sector on the evolving risks of fraud posed to property. The webinars come as banking trade association UK Finance warned fraud remains a major threat, with an increase in both the total number of […]
Millions of homes at risk of flooding and subsidence, Aviva warns
Aviva has warned millions of homes are at risk of surface water flooding and subsidence, with some of the UK’s most well-known landmarks at risk from the impacts of extreme weather if urgent action isn’t taken. The insurer’s latest Building Future Communities report analyses the latest data to outline the risks homes could face from […]
UK homeowners reject reform of capital gains tax, survey finds
A survey of UK homeowners has found overwhelming opposition to proposed capital gains tax (CGT) changes on main residences, with respondents saying the reforms are unfair and damaging for home buyers. The research from Boon Brokers revealed 97% of the 1,000 homeowners surveyed disagreed that applying CGT to main homes is the fairest way to […]
Yopa urges buyers to explore new-build incentives, as sales fall 62% in 2025
Figures from national estate agency Yopa reveal new-build sales volumes are down 62% so far in 2025, with significant drops recorded across all regions. The company is urging buyers to explore the many initiatives available when buying a brand new home, including developer incentives, purchase schemes and new products from mortgage lenders – all designed […]
OPDA teams up with the SLC to drive collaboration and advance digital transformation
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), formalising a new partnership designed to promote closer collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the two organisations and the broader property sector. The MoU sets out a shared commitment between the two organisations to advance the digital […]
Newly formed taskforce calls for ‘balance between reform and resilience’
The UK property market is one of the largest and most important in the world and protecting its integrity requires a careful balance between any reforms and security, according to a newly formed ‘Conveyancing Task Force’ (CTF), as the government considers how it might reform home buying and selling through its recent consultation. Formed in […]
Women in Residential Property webinar offers insight into industry trends
A webinar hosted by Women in Residential Property (WIRP) on 4th November will offer a comprehensive update on developments across the residential property industry. The free event will bring together experts from conveyancing, block management, estate agency and surveying, and is open to anyone working in the industry. Attendees will gain valuable insight into how […]
Unadopted infrastructure leads to double-whammy to home buyers
Homebuyers could be in effect being charged twice for infrastructure including roads, sewers, and drainage as many new build developments are left entering into private management arrangements after local authorities and utility providers leave them unadopted. In new research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) many new build developments are passing the cost of these […]
Next generation NLIS platform to be developed with government funding
More details have emerged of the £1m awarded to Land Data to set up a new independent platform that will ‘modernise conveyancing searches’ as part of efforts to improve the homebuying and selling process . It was announced this week the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF); a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) programme which fund […]
4 year old conveyancing firm valued at over £20m in PE investment
A Cheltenham-headquartered conveyancing firm has been valued at over £20m just four years after launching following significant private equity investment. Montpellier Legal, with offices Bath, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, London, Stroud and Worcester, was launched in 2021 and says it has leveraged technology and invested in its staff to achieve ‘impressive growth since inception.” Founder Simon […]
Reeves may target limited liability partnerships in budget to raise public funds
Chancellor Rachel Reeves may target limited liability partnerships (LLPs) as part of her plans to tax ‘those with the broadest shoulders’ in the upcoming budget. Tasked with filling a sizeable hole in the public finances, in part due to the unexpected longer term impact of Brexit and austerity, the chancellor is reported to be considering […]