CLC shares updated guidance on the treatment of VAT on disbursements
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has published new guidance on the correct VAT treatment of disbursements. The guidance note brings together information and resources with the aim of supporting firms in determining how to treat different disbursements for VAT purposes. As well as a revised definition of the term ‘disbursement’, the guidance note includes an outline of relevant case […]
Nine out of every 10 digital ID checks is successful, data reveals
Almost nine out of every 10 digital ID checks are now successful, according to compliance software company Credas. The company, which supplies software to the legal and property sectors, said its figures demonstrate pass rates of 89.3%, up from 86.1% last year. Cases requiring additional manual checks dropped from 9.1% to between 3-4% annually. Although […]
Second home reclassification as holidays lets costing £400m in lost council tax and business rates
A rule that lets second-home owners avoid council tax if they let their property for 10 weeks is now costing government nearly £400 million a year, according to commercial real estate company Colliers. Last year, Colliers said there were 73,838 holiday-let properties eligible for 100% business rates relief, costing the public purse £334 million. For […]
Leasehold complications lengthening transaction times, with conveyancing blamed for delays
Average transaction times have extended by four weeks since 2019, according to statistics published by Connells Group this week. Leasehold transactions are driving much of the increase in average timescales, with a typical leasehold transaction taking 155 days to reach exchange in April – 58 days longer than a freehold property. The estate agency group […]
Firm-wide CPD and peer-assessed training part of new CLC ongoing competence requirements
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is introducing new requirements for individuals and firms to undertake and report on ongoing competence, as part of a new Ongoing Competence Code. The code, effective from 1st November, includes the assessment of training by senior colleagues. Individuals will be required to complete and report on a minimum of […]
Updated valuation standards for multi-storey residential buildings with cladding
An EWS1 form is intended for valuation and lending purposes only and is not a fire safety certificate and does not replace a professional life safety fire risk assessment, according to new guidance. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published the second edition of its UK professional standard, Secured lending valuation of properties […]
Half of homes don’t sell – Zoopla
Nearly half of all homes listed for sale in the UK do not sell, according to Zoopla. Analysis of listings on the property portal identified 44% of homes listed in the past three years didn’t attract a buyer. Out of touch sellers are contributing to the issue, according to Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla. […]
Focus on quality, supervision and accountability for successful reform, conveyancing pressure group says
The Conveyancing Task Force, a group of practising conveyancers formed in the wake of the government’s home buying and selling reform consultation, has issued a briefing note to MPs warning that the core issues of the transaction process are being overlooked. The 23-strong group, which includes small law firms and a PLC alongside individual conveyancers […]
Speakers from MHCLG, CLC and Law Society confirmed for Bold Legal Group conference
A growing line-up of speakers and sessions has been confirmed for the Bold Legal Group Conveyancing Conference & Soirée 2026, which takes place on Wednesday 17th June at Regent’s University in London. Confirmed speakers include Law Society president Mark Evans, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) strategy adviser Tom Treadwell, and representatives from the […]
SRA shelves CILEX transfer after four year delay
Controversial plans to transfer the regulation of Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have been shelved. The SRA, in a draft 2026-27 business plan published last week, confirmed that “some activity [it] had anticipated progressing next year will need to be paused” as it seeks to “prioritise work […]
Mental Health Awareness Week: Law Society says Mental Health Act must work for all; Conveyancing Foundation shares resources for conveyancers
As Mental Health Awareness Week gets underway, the Law Society of England and Wales is urging the UK government to formally consult with experts and those with lived experience to develop a code of practice for the Mental Health Act 2025. The new act, which became law in December 2025 and will be rolled out over […]
Local Land Charges Excellence Awards recognise best performing councils
The winners of the 19th annual Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence have been announced, with councils up and down the country recognised across eight separate categories. This year also saw the inclusion of the first Outstanding Contribution award, launched in memory of long-standing Land Data CEO Jan Boothroyd, who passed away in […]
SRA seeks 29% funding increase ‘to move from reactive to proactive regulation’
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has proposed a £50 increase in individual practising fees, taking the annual fee to £240. Compensation fund contributions are expected to be set at £120 for an individual solicitor and £3,600 for an SRA-regulated firm. Individual combined fees, which cover the practising certificate fee and compensation fund contribution, would rise […]
LSB calls for ‘urgent and immediate’ action from SRA, as it orders external audit of regulator’s compliance
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has summoned the Solicitors Regulation Authority to an in-person meeting before the end of May to seek assurance that it has the necessary expertise and oversight approach to deliver the urgent reform needed to address the challenges and complexities in the legal sector. The regulator has also been ordered to […]
Property market cooling is ‘short term’ – Halifax
A cooling of the property market is anticipated “in the short term” according to the latest house price data from Halifax, which shows little movement in average property prices. Price are down by 0.1% in April compared to the previous month, but the “underlying picture remains one of relative stability,” Halifax head of mortgages Amanda […]
Conveyancing Association backs Select Committee recommendations for upfront information and estate agent regulation
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has backed recommendations made by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee aimed at improving the home buying and selling process, including upfront property information and stronger regulation of estate agents. According to the trade body, most of the committee’s recommendations reflect long-standing industry concerns around delays, failed transactions and […]
No clear date for Bracknell Forest search issue resolution
Local authority searches from Bracknell Forest Council remain unavailable after an issue with the transfer of data to a new system supplier. In an email update shared on Friday, the council wrote: “We’re continuing to work with Arcus and external data experts to find a solution to the ongoing land charges ICT issue. Unfortunately, we […]
Rising costs add £76,000 to new homes, HBF report finds
New research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) reveals £76,000 has been added to the cost of building a home since 2020, which the organisation says raises serious concerns about the viability of new housing developments across the UK. The report, The Viability Crunch, examines the cumulative impact of policy, taxation and regulatory pressures on […]
‘Embrace AI to stay relevant to TikTok generation’ Sir Geoffrey Vos tells lawyers
Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls, has urged lawyers to embrace technological change and the use of AI to ensure younger generations engage with the justice system. Sir Geoffrey Vos, head of civil justice in England and Wales, said in a speech at The Judicial Institute for Scotland, Parliament Square, Edinburgh, last Thursday, […]
Property industry webinar returns on 12th May
Networking and collaboration group Women in Residential Property has hosted regular property market updates since its inception in 2017, drawing on the experience of its members from across the residential property sector, with representation from block management, estate agency, surveying and conveyancing. This month, the update is led by Emily Gray (operations director for independent […]