Don’t panic, but stay alert – CLC discusses tax adviser registration during National Conveyancing Month

Don’t panic, but stay alert is the message from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) when it comes to tax adviser registration, said Stephen Ward, director of communications at the regulator, in a wide ranging discussion exclusively for National Conveyancing Month.

Ward said he hoped for greater clarity from HMRC on the responsibilities on conveyancers, despite the publication of recent guidance, with a meeting planned this week with the government to confirm who must register (locums, consultants, and roles in smaller versus larger firms), how the registration system will work, and whether any exemptions could be secured. The CLC will also provide further guidance ahead of the May registration deadline, with Ward acknowledging some firms may choose to outsource their SDLT processes.

The discussion with Bold Legal Group CEO Rob Hailstone was hosted as part of National Conveyancing Month and touched on a range of topics put forward by the conveyancing community.

On criticism of ‘volume’ conveyancing operations, Ward suggested there is no correlation between firm size and quality based on the regulator’s own oversight. The key determinant of quality, he argued, is diligence and effective systems, not scale, noting that diverse business models matter; large firms can be better placed to absorb the growing regulatory and process burdens (such as Building Safety Act requirements), while smaller firms often offer valuable local knowledge and personal service. The CLC’s role, he stressed, is to ensure quality across the market – not to favour particular models.

Last year the CLC indicated it would undertake a thematic review into referral fees triggered by the BBC Panorama exposé of pressure‑selling tactics among some estate agents. While referral fees have long been a legitimate source of work acquisition, Ward acknowledged growing concerns around consumer choice, the importance of fees to business models, and transparency which “too often occurs after the consumer has already been influenced toward a preferred conveyancer.”

He said the CLC had begun a data gathering exercise and further consultation with the profession is planned. Without pre-empting the outcomes, Ward suggested earlier disclosure by estate agents, stricter transparency and consumer‑choice protections, and whether fee levels are inhibiting competition could all be up for discussion, although given the CLC is not an economic regulator it would not set fee caps.

The discussion, which also covers up front information and  the digitisation of property data, the transfer of AML compliance enforcement to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and  artifical intelligence, is available on the Conveyancing Foundation YouTube channel.

Elsewhere in National Conveyancing Month, a panel discussion exploring workplace culture and what really works when it comes to mental health and staff wellbeing was hosted by Andre Thomas, a recruitment and workplace culture consultant, and featured British Conveyancing Awards 2026 finalists in the Best Place to Work category – Martha Palk of Birketts LLP, Heather Adams of Myserson Solicitors and Amy Church of Lucas & Wyllys Solicitors, alongside Kevin Tunnicliffe of Sort Group.

Surviving & Thriving: Practical Wellbeing Advice for Conveyancers explored the pressures faced by conveyancers and discussed practical strategies firms are using to make a positive difference.

On 19th March, the property industry came together for the Collaboration Coffee Morning, with conveyancers up and down the country bringing teams and referrers together in a spirit of charity and collaboration.

With just a week to go of this year’s celebrations, conveyancers are reminded to get involved in the Conveyancing Quiz which will be hosted at 30pm on the 31st March, hosted by Bricks and Banter. Thanks to the generosity of Howden, the winning team will take home four general admission tickets to Ascot 2026.

Sign up to take part in the quiz