How PropTech could connect transactions of the future
The future of digital property transactions is closer than many think. Here, Nick Dyoss, group business development and relationships Director at Landmark, explains how national digitisation, trusted data frameworks and new infrastructure could deliver a faster, more certain and more connected market for everyone in the near-term future. The UK property market is undergoing […]
AI is blurring boundaries on legal advice, new LSB chief exec warns
Richard Orpin, the new chief executive of the Legal Services Board, has hailed legal services as a “huge economic success story,” but warned that “AI is blurring the boundaries between regulated and unregulated legal advice.” Speaking at LegalEx London, Orpin (pictured) highlighted that the revenue generated by legal activities in the UK grew from £41.4 […]
Second charge borrowers ‘at increased risk of financial harm’, warns FCA
A Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review has found that weaknesses in some firms’ practices in the second charge mortgage market could put “borrowers, particularly those consolidating debt, at increased risk of financial harm”. Lenders and brokers have been warned that they need to raise consumer standards and consider how they advise customers, assess affordability and […]
March housing market remains steady despite global uncertainty, Rightmove finds
Market activity in March appears stable so far despite the new geopolitical uncertainty created by the Iran war, according to Rightmove’s latest figures. The property portal’s real-time snapshot of daily market activity on Friday revealed the number of sales being agreed is only 2% behind the strong market of this time last year, and 5% […]
Understanding complaints and early resolution opportunities
The latest episode of the Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcomes Senior Ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) Clair Daniel to explore the current landscape of legal complaints handling, the challenges facing firms, and the strategic work underway to improve first‑tier resolution across the legal sector. The backdrop to the discussion is the increase in the number […]
Qualified electronic signatures in conveyancing: Why QES matters now
The property market has moved decisively into the digital age, but conveyancing hasn’t always kept pace. While buyers can view properties online, arrange mortgages digitally, and transfer deposits electronically, the final signing stage has historically remained frustratingly analogue, relying on a pen-and-ink process that’s remained largely unchanged for 100s of years. That is now changing. […]
SMEs would bear the brunt of proposals to fund access to justice through client accounts – CILEX
Small to medium sized law firms could be unfairly and disproportionately penalised under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to redistribute interest from client accounts to fund access to justice, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) claims. The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) would represent a “further tax and compliance burden which could […]
Second consecutive year of growth provides cautious optimism for 2026, IRN conveyancing report suggests
The latest IRN UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report reveals the volume of residential transactions in the UK has increased for the second year running in 2025, following declines in 2022 and 2023. The residential conveyancing market registered market value growth of 7.0% in 2025 and is forecast to grow by 6.1% in 2026. The sector […]
CILEX calls for more opportunities to diversify access to the legal profession
Legal regulators are not doing enough to open up the flexible pathways into a legal career that are needed to improve diversity in the sector, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) says. The comments were made in response to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) consultation on its draft policy statement on encouraging a diverse […]
Strong home ownership ambitions persist despite affordability challenges, study reveals
Around two thirds of UK adults surveyed for an annual lending study say they hope to purchase a property, despite ongoing financial pressures and mounting concerns about credit history. The survey of 4,000 UK adults carried out for The Pepper Money Specialist Lending Study 2025 revealed that young people are the most optimistic about stepping […]
SRA formally censured for failures over SSB Group
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been formally censured by the Legal Services Board (LSB) over its failure to protect consumers affected by the failure of SSB Group. The LSB’s report into the SRA’s handling of SSB Group identified “prolonged delays in identifying and responding to clear warning signs” at the firm, with the decision […]
What your clients are really thinking: The data-driven truth about how people choose a solicitor in 2026
If you ask law firm partners how clients typically find them, the most common answers remain word of mouth, reputation and referrals. These factors continue to matter significantly. However, they no longer represent the full picture. The way individuals search for, evaluate and appoint solicitors in the UK has evolved. It is increasingly digital, more […]
Nationwide’s February house price index ‘reinforces modest recovery’
The February house price index from Nationwide reinforces the view of a modest recovery following a dip at the end of last year, the building society has reported. The number of mortgages approved for house purchase are close to pre-pandemic levels, Nationwide’s chief economist Robert Gardner pointed out, with improved affordability and an easing in […]
HMRC tax adviser rules ‘disproportionate’ and risk ‘serious unintended consequences’ – Conveyancing Association
The Conveyancing Association has criticised the proposed HMRC SDLT changes which propose to require conveyancing firms to register as tax advisers, saying they are “disproportionate” and risk “serious unintended consequences for firms and consumers alike”. In a statement released yesterday, Nicky Heathcote, The Conveyancing Association’s non-executive chair, said the organisation’s position remains clear and called for […]
Mortgage figures show a strong 2025 but slow start to 2026
New mortgage figures released by UK Finance and the Bank of England reveal strong growth for lending in 2025, followed by a reduction in January of this year. The Household Finance Review for Q4 2025 from UK Finance shows a 16% increase in mortgage lending – the highest level since 2021. But Bank of England […]
e4 Strategic joins UK Finance as associate member
Leading proptech specialist e4 Strategic has joined UK Finance as an associate member, taking another step forward in its commitment to supporting lenders and other stakeholders to improve the UK homebuying and conveyancing process. The move follows the recent appointment of Jackie Bennett OBE as non-executive director, bringing one of the industry’s most respected voices […]
UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, with residential conveyancing worth £2.5bn
The UK legal services sector increased by 6.1% in 2025, according to the latest legal services market report from IRN Legal Reports. The total estimated value of the market last year was £55.5 billion, with residential conveyancing accounting for £2.5 billion. The largest segment in the consumer legal services market was in personal injury or […]
Treasury losing out on half a billion in SDLT revenues as a result of fall throughs, Rightmove claims
Fall throughs could be costing the property economy as much as £900 million in lost estate agency fees and tax revenue, according to research by property portal Rightmove. The figure does not include lost conveyancing fees, or the wider spend on white goods and soft furnishings associated with moving home. The figure is based on […]
25 years of property due diligence and searches – and what comes next…
The latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast marks a major milestone for property due diligence and environmental search provider Groundsure, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary Podcast host David Opie is joined by CEO Malcolm Smith and Customer Engagement Director Catherine Shiers to reflect on the evolution of the industry, the shifting expectations of consumers, and […]
OPDA signs memorandums of understanding with the Legal Software Suppliers Association and the Conveyancing Association
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) and The Conveyancing Association to promote closer collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the property sector. The MoU sets out shared commitments to advance the digital transformation of the home buying and selling process encourage the use of […]