Proptech firm Coadjute appoints Phil Spencer as ambassador in fight against money laundering
Proptech firm Coadjute has appointed property broadcaster Phil Spencer as an ambassador to help bring attention to the risks of money laundering. Coadjute, which provides a digital platform from property transaction workflows, says it has made a “major strategic shift” towards anti-money laundering compliance, and has positioned the fight against financial crime at the heart […]
New note outlines best practice for mandatory and elective climate report content
The Council of Property Search Organisations has published a new compliance note which sets mandatory standards for climate searches for property search organisations who subscribe to the Search Code. CoPSO was founded in 2003 and provides guidance and a ‘self-regulatory framework’ for property due diligence data providers under its Code of Practice for Search Compilers […]
Leasehold in practice
In the penultimate of our regular series from ALEP, lease extension and enfranchisement specialist Shabnam Ali-Khan explains why the majority of ownership structures work – and how to improve those that don’t. More than a year on from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA), there is a feeling in the leasehold enfranchisement sector of […]
Profile: Kevin Tunnicliffe, CEO and founder of Sort Group
Kev Tunnicliffe is CEO and founder of Sort Group (SortRefer and Sort Legal), a technology led property services provider focused on improving the home moving journey for brokers, conveyancers and consumers. With more than 35 years in the property industry, Kev launched SortRefer in 2009 to bring better collaboration, data and technology to the conveyancing […]
Separating compliance roles ‘complex and impractical’ Law Society says in client money consultation response
Proposals which would insist on separate post holders for roles of Compliance Office for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Senior Reporting Officer (SRO) amongst other compliance-related roles in law firms are ‘complex and impractical’ say the Law Society in their response to the Solicitors Regulation […]
Conveyancers call for wider industry support in the wake of PM Law closure
The personal stories of the impact the PM Law closure has had on home movers has been widely publicised in the national press with families in limbo, and many left paying two mortgages as redemption funds were caught up in the fallout from the stricken firm. A Facebook group set up by those affected now […]
HMRC confirms tax adviser registration rules
HMRC has published its updated guidance on the requirement to register as a tax adviser and the conditions individuals and firms must meet. Every business which interacts with HMRC about someone else’s tax affairs and receives payment for doing so must register for an agent services account from 18 May. ‘Interaction’ is classed as dealing […]
Chain breakdowns adding a 43% premium to the cost of moving
Home movers spent an additional 43% over their allocated budget for home moving essentials including conveyancing, searches and surveys when their home moves were delayed or broke down as a result of chain related issues, according to data from Barclays. A third of UK adults (32%) who bought or sold a home in the last […]
SRA ‘will profile law firms’ to identify warning signs of collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will profile law firms to help identify those at risk of collapse, chief executive Sarah Rapson (pictured) has said. Speaking to the Law Society Gazette this week, Rapson said the SRA will prioritise proactive action and “getting ahead of the risks” in the wake of high-profile failures at Axiom Ince, SSB […]
‘Significant digital change just around the corner’, CA annual conference hears
Significant digital change and improvement is happening and will gather momentum throughout 2026, according to a number of speakers at this year’s Conveyancing Association Annual Conference, where the representative body celebrated its 25th anniversary. With the theme of Conveyancing Under the Spotlight, participants heard analysis, viewpoints and input from property industry figures, consumers and digital […]
Leaseholders deterred from making complaints, report finds
New analysis from The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), a government-funded advisory body providing free and impartial initial legal advice to leaseholders and park homeowners, spotlights how the current complexity of the leasehold redress system is deterring leaseholders from pursuing and resolving complaints. The survey of 247 leaseholders revealed that many are not escalating complaints because […]
IRN conveyancing report finds cause for ‘cautious optimism’
The latest UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report from IRN Legal Reports reveals a second consecutive year of growth, and offers “cautious optimism” for 2026, its authors say. The volume of residential transactions in the UK increased for the second year running in 2025 following declines in 2022 and 2023, with volume growth reaching 10%. […]
‘Demand remains resilient’, ONS housing market figures suggest
Average UK house prices increased by 2.5%, to £271,000, in the 12 months to November 2025, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. The annual growth rate is up from 1.9% in the 12 months to October 2025. “UK annual house price inflation slowed in December following the rise in November with the average […]
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 […]
SRA confirms ‘potential fraud and missing client money’ at PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has formally confirmed it is investigating “potential fraud, including the misappropriation of client money” at the Sheffield-based law firm PM Law after it unexpectedly closed on Monday 2nd February. In a statement published on the SRA website, Jonathan Peddie, executive director of legal and enforcement, confirmed the regulator is looking into […]
Property Deals Insight signs up to OPDA
Property data platform Property Deals Insight has become the latest member of the Open Property Data Association (OPDA). Founded in 2019, Property Deals Insight was created to tackle “fragmented, inconsistent and hard-to-access data”, which they describe as one of the property market’s most persistent challenges. The platform brings together trusted data from across the property ecosystem […]
Latest SRA fines for AML non-compliance
The latest round of Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) penalties for AML breaches includes firms of all sizes, from Legal 500 companies to small high street outfits. With a high percentage of their work coming from conveyancing, the SRA views each as being at high risk of exploitation from criminals. Bristol-based Humphreys & Co reached a […]
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 […]
New tech platform aims to help legal clients navigate cost and retainer terms
A legal technology platform has been launched to help law firms ensure clients understand legal costs and retainer terms. The Legal Lexi has been created by a regulated and experienced fellow costs lawyer in response to the rising number of fee-related disputes between solicitors and clients, including complaints to the Legal Ombudsman. Under the Consumer […]
Legal Ombudsman complaints data shows record levels of demand
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its complaint data for Q3 of 2025/26 which reveals “a sustained and accelerating demand” for help and the highest complaint volumes for any previous quarter on record. The number of new complaints received by the LeO increased by 29.8% in the reporting period, which covers 1 October to 31 […]