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 […]
Home buying and selling reform that must work for our profession
The Government’s consultation on home buying and selling reform – available to view here – should clearly be of interest to all conveyancing stakeholders, not least because it purports to be focused on fixing long-standing issues in the process. Much of what is proposed aligns with what the Conveyancing Association has campaigned for over many […]
TA6: The calm after the storm
When the Law Society introduced the 5th edition of the TA6 Property Information Form, it was presented as a step towards greater transparency, efficiency and even business opportunities. It became one of the most contentious topics in recent conveyancing history. The timing and intention were understandable. Material Information had been debated by conveyancing industry bodies […]
We need a balanced and authoritative approach to leasehold reform: The sector demands clarity, not speed
It is widely accepted that the leasehold system is in need of reform, and that the current leasehold system is flawed in many ways. The 2024 Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA), enacted hastily by the previous government as if it had run out of steam, was heralded as significant step towards fairer ownership structures, […]