Commonhold won’t work without managing agent reform
In our regular series from ALEP, right to manage specialist Louise Uphill from Moore Barlow and ALEP explains why management agent reform is needed before commonhold becomes mandatory for all new-build flats. As part of its wide-ranging leasehold reform agenda, the government has, through the publication of its Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, […]
Profile: David Pett, solicitor and director of MJP Conveyancing
David Pett is a director and solicitor at MJP Conveyancing, specialising in residential property transactions with a particular focus on risk, compliance and process efficiency. After starting his legal career in litigation across family, personal injury, employment and sports law, he moved into conveyancing in 2010, recognising it as an area where technology could meaningfully […]
Planning reform alone will not fix housing crisis, warns Propertymark
A property sector professional body is warning that focusing solely on reforming the planning system will not deliver the number of new homes the UK urgently needs. Propertymark said that whilst planning reform has been at the centre of successive government’s housing strategies, their analysis shows that changes to the planning system have not historically […]
Challenges and opportunities for cultural transformation in the conveyancing sector
Rob Gurney, managing director Ochresoft, Landmark Information Group, shares the results of Landmark’s independent market research into the future of residential conveyancing and examines the use of technology in an industry at a crossroads. The conveyancing sector is on the cusp of real, tangible transformation. As firms embrace digitalisation – from AI‑assisted workflows to the […]
Profile: Connor O’Dell, licensed conveyancer at Connor O’Dell Conveyancing Ltd
Connor O’Dell is a licensed conveyancer and was named One to Watch – Conveyancer of the Year at the British Conveyancer Awards 2025. He has almost 10 years’ experience is the sector, and is known for his energy, precision, and unwavering client-first approach. He has a genuine passion for improving the home-moving experience. What was […]
If government wants commonhold to succeed at scale it must invest in training
Commonhold will only succeed at scale if government and the property sector invest in practical training across the market, ALEP’s Mark Wilson argues. Commonhold is not just a policy choice, he says, but a different operating model with new documents, governance and management behaviours – and there is limited hands-on experience in England and Wales. […]
By failing to embrace data, the Warm Homes plan causes problems for conveyancers
The Residential Log Book Association (RLBA) believes the government has overlooked a crucial aspect of retrofitting in its Warm Homes plan. RLBA chair Nigel Walley explains why the use of log books in homes with low carbon technologies would ease the pressure on conveyancers and consumers. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) […]
Profile: Michael Day, property industry veteran
December 2025 saw Michael Day complete his 50th year in the residential property sector. The well-known industry figure is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, National Association of Estate Agents and Association of Residential Letting Agents. He has been a partner and director in some of the UK’s most successful property businesses […]
The UK’s unsustainable conveyancing system demands coordinated reform
Joe Pepper, UK CEO of conveyancing platform PEXA, explains why the ever-increasing burden on conveyancers is unsustainable without meaningful reform. Early projections suggest the UK housing market is poised for a resurgence this year, challenging the prevailing narrative of stagnation. For consumers hoping to enter or progress within the property market, this offers a […]
Profile: Vicki Redman, head of knowledge and training for Swiitch
Vicki Redman is head of knowledge and training for Swiitch, the conveyancing brand of Shoosmiths LLP. She is also the founder and author of GRACE (Guidance for Raising Appropriate Conveyancing Enquiries). Vicki has over 25 years of conveyancing experience and won Conveyancing Support Team Member of the Year at the British Conveyancing Awards 2024. […]
Property tax reform is not just a policy tool – it’s essential for economic growth
Nathan Emerson, CEO of estate agent body Propertymark, explains why well-designed property tax reform is not simply a housing policy tool, but an effective lever for broader economic growth. Forecasts of modest house price growth in 2026, alongside falling mortgage rates, point towards a housing market that is beginning to stabilise, offering renewed hope […]
The impact of government changes on the property market
Sarah Barnes, head of residential conveyancing at law firm Napthens, looks at the housing market in 2026 and examines the impact of changes to sellers’ obligations and the upcoming mansion tax. As we start move through January and into 2026, the theme of cautious confidence appears to be taking over. However, it’s still early days […]
Profile: Peter Ambrose, managing director of The Partnership
Peter Ambrose is the managing director of The Partnership, a company modernising the conveyancing process. With a legal background and strong technology expertise, he founded the firm to transform traditional residential transactions. Over the past decade, he has built the company into a respected brand with offices in London and Guildford, a team of over […]
Profile: John Coulter, consultant solicitor and founder, ClearPath Consultants
With over 20 years of experience in residential conveyancing, consultant solicitor John Coulter has worked across high-volume firms, boutique practices, and leadership roles. Alongside his legal practice, he advises law firms on operational efficiency, capacity management and sustainable growth, with a particular focus on improving workflow design, client communication and team wellbeing – without increasing […]
Lessons from the market: How home buying really works
With a career spanning 25 years in various roles in the property sector, most recently as commercial director at Conveyancer Insights and Property Search Direct, Mike Stainsby shares the lessons he’s learned about home buying during the last seven years in a business on the frontline of the home buying process. The home buying […]
Tech predictions for 2026: Accelerated adoption, streamlined tech stacks, and more soft-skills in legal work
Property tech company Search Acumen says 2026 will see an accelerated adoption of AI and technology in the legal sector, especially in property law, driven by government innovation and investment. As AI and digital tools become more sophisticated and comprehensive, law firms will streamline their subscriptions to one or two essential products, the company says, […]
Delays, upfront information and liability risks
Julie Williams, head of service delivery at outsourced conveyancing process provider ASAP, explains why enquiries remain the biggest barrier to sales progression. The home-moving process is currently under the spotlight with government, industry and consumers all pushing for faster, more transparent transactions. Despite a focus towards digitising the home buying process and consistent, shared […]
Material information: Why earlier collaboration is now unavoidable
Mike Stainsby, commercial director at Conveyancer Insights and Property Search Direct, explains why introducing upfront material information could be the answer to the question the property industry has been asking for years. The government’s consultation on material information marks the strongest push yet toward genuine upfront transparency. For agents and conveyancers, it’s not just […]
As a conveyancer, this budget is definitely a case of ‘less is less’
As a conveyancer, I watched the government’s budget with the same mix of curiosity and cautious optimism shared across the property sector. In conveyancing, budget announcements can bring sudden changes that require an immediate response, and over the years I’ve learned to stay alert. I’ve spent more than one lunch break sitting in my car, […]
Budget 2025: Will the property market be targeted for more tax?
Rachel Reeves’ somewhat unprecedented pre-budget speech on 4th November seemed to pave the way for tax rise announcements at the end of the month. New challenges over the last 12 months are the backdrop to ‘tough choices to be made’ that ‘we will all have to play our part in supporting’. There was a swift […]