LSB to ‘focus on sharper and more targeted interventions’ in response to changing regulatory environment
The Legal Services Board (LSB) is responding to a “rapidly evolving” legal sector and plans to change its approach to oversight regulation to focus efforts on “where they are most needed”, according to its business plan for 2026/27. Recently appointed LSB chair Monisha Shah said that while she will focus on discovery in her first […]
SRA is investigating £39.5m ‘sophisticated suspected fraud’ at PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it is investigating a “sophisticated suspected fraud” at PM Law, following its intervention in February. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the regulator said it now believes the failure of the firm, headquartered in Sheffield (pictured) was due to the improper removal and misuse of around £39.5 million […]
FCA welcomes second cohort of AI-powered solutions for real world testing
As part of efforts to develop AI-powered fintech, the Financial Conduct Authority has announced its second cohort of organisations chosen to live test AI applications and “explore key questions around risk management and live monitoring to support the responsible deployment of AI for consumers and markets”. Eight new firms, including Coadjute, Barclays, Experian, Lloyds Banking […]
12,737 reasons to read this article
SDLT is not a simple tax. HMRC says so. The courts say so. The statutory framework says so. And 12,737 real matters handled by Compass say so. Yet still some market commentators state otherwise, so here is what the law, the data, and the regulatory framework tell us. The legal position is not ambiguous HMRC […]
Post-pandemic property boom fuels remortgage market as five-year deals come to an end
A near 25% increase in mortgage activity in the first quarter of 2025 was driven by a 46% increase in remortgaging as “rafts of borrowers” continue to come off ultra-low pandemic era mortgage products, according to the latest Mortgage Market Briefing from Stonebridge. The brokerage network says the surge was due to large number of […]
Conveyancers say they’re unprepared for HMRC tax adviser changes
A Today’s Conveyancer poll has revealed only 10% of conveyancers are prepared for upcoming HMRC requirements to register as tax advisers, with the remaining 90% saying they’re unprepared (33%) or need more information (57%). From 18 May, tax advisers who interact with HMRC on behalf of clients will be legally required to register as tax […]
FCA open finance roadmap ‘important step forward for property sector’
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out a roadmap for open data that will give consumers greater control over financial deals, and says it will examine how open finance can help consumers manage and improve access to mortgages. Open finance will offer people and businesses the potential to share their financial data securely with […]
Mortgage Advice Bureau acquires HomeOwners Alliance
HomeOwners Alliance (HOA), a consumer focused home-moving advice website, has been acquired by Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) in a move described by MAB as a way to “strengthen presence earlier in the home-buying journey and expand its role across the wider property ecosystem”. Founded in 2012, HOA receives millions of web visits annually, providing guidance, […]
LeO receives 6.1% budget increase to tackle ‘staggering’ increase in complaints
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has published its 2026-27 Business Plan & Budget for the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), which includes a strong emphasis on preventing complaints from arising and reducing unnecessary escalation. Complaints have risen almost 30% year-on-year and the LeO expects to receive 7,675 new complaints in 2026-27, representing a 174% increase since 2019-20. The level […]
Positive BoE lender survey misleading, experts warn, as ‘ongoing turmoil spooks big banks’
Lenders expect mortgage demand to increase over the coming months, according to the Bank of England’s latest Credit Conditions Survey – but experts warn attitudes have shifted since the survey was carried out earlier this year, amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Demand for secured lending for house purchase was unchanged in Q1, with figures covering the […]
‘Housing market has lost some momentum’ – Halifax
The latest house price data from Halifax suggests the housing market has lost momentum as spring begins. The pace of annual growth has eased to 0.8% from 1.2% the previous month, which Halifax head of mortgages Amanda Bryden says reflects wider uncertainty regarding the conflict in the Middle East. She explained: “Concerns about higher energy […]
Market turmoil leaves home movers exposed to mortgage rate changes
Four in 10 downsizers still require a mortgage to buy a home, the impact of which is consumer exposure to “market turmoil”, the home moving comparison site reallymoving warns. Drawing on its own data from thousands of quotes on its site, reallymoving said 40.5% of downsizers used a mortgage to purchase their home in the […]
Profile: Rob Hosier: head of conveyancer relationships, PEXA UK
Rob Hosier is head of conveyancer relationships at PEXA UK, where he oversees the management and growth of PEXA’s relationships with all conveyancers. Hosier brings over 18 years of experience in the conveyancing sector. What was your career path to your current role? I started my career as a legal assistant straight out of law […]
Rightmove faces £1.5bn class action as agents claim portal has overcharged for services
Property portal Rightmove is the subject of a class action as estate agents claim it has overcharged for its services. The claim, first reported in November 2025. has now been submitted to the Competition Appeal Tribunal by Jeremy Newman, a former panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority, claiming the property portal has been […]
Communication, unclear expectations and unjustified delays are key causes of residential conveyancing complaints
Poor communication, unclear or unrealistic expectations and unjustified delays without proper explanation are the key causes of complaints in property transactions, according to the Legal Ombudsman in the latest Spotlight published on its website. The Spotlight goes on to provide guidance for practitioners, focusing on what the ombudsman describes as three critical junctures: instruction and […]
LSB confirms Richard Blakeway as chair of Office for Legal Complaints
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed the appointment of Richard Blakeway to the post of chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) after an open competition. The appointment follows Blakeway’s appearance before the Justice Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny last month, and has been approved by Sarah Sackman, the minister of state for […]
‘The biggest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget’
The Iran conflict has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget, the financial information company Moneyfacts has said, with rates soaring in the space of just one month. Mortgage deals have been rapidly repriced, with average two-year fixed rates jumping from 4.84% to 5.84% in a month, while five-year […]
Court of Appeal overturns Mazur in ‘most consequential judgment for legal services in recent history’
The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) in its appeal against Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, which limited the extent to which legal executives and paralegals can conduct litigation. In a statement released following the ruling, CILEX chief executive Jennifer Coupland said it was “the most […]
Mazur overturned: Legal sector reacts
Law firms and practitioners have responded to the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, which limited the extent to which legal executives and paralegals can conduct litigation. Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment, CILEx Regulation said its priority would be to support those who had been affected […]
‘Ominous signs’ as Middle East conflict clouds positive housing market indicators
The latest indicators from HMRC and Nationwide paint a positive picture of the housing market, but experts warn the figures “set an ominous tone” as the Middle East conflict slows economic growth. Seasonally adjusted UK monthly residential property transaction figures from HMRC show a 6% increase on January’s figures, with 102,410 transactions. Although the figures […]