Housing transactions end the year on a high, ‘demand set to increase’
HMRC’s residential property transactions for December were 5% higher than the previous year on a seasonally adjusted basis, at 100,440. The non-seasonally adjusted estimate was up by 7% to 105,730 year-on-year, and 1% higher than November 2025. Monthly transaction levels have remained stable since summer last year, with the first half of the year affected […]
Property sector reacts to draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill
The government released its draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill last week, and the property industry has shared some very mixed reactions. The government said the bill is a “game-changing shake up” of the leasehold system – but some housing market experts disagree. Yesterday, Today’s Conveyancer shared reactions from conveyancing bodies and leasehold campaigners. While […]
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 […]
Transaction times could be halved without the need for government or regulatory intervention, report finds
A new report estimates property transaction timescales could be drastically reduced without the need for major home buying and selling reform or legislative change. The current timescales of 126 days from mortgage application to completion could be halved, the Future Property Transaction (FPT) Group suggests, if the market were able to operate at the speed […]
CTF calls on lenders to take ‘a more active and accountable role’ in property market reforms
The Conveyancing Task Force (CTF) has urged UK Finance and its members to take a more active, and accountable role in delivering the government’s home buying and selling reforms. The groups warns that digitalisation alone will not resolve the “systemic” delays that continue to frustrate consumers and professionals alike. While lenders have been vocal in […]
Draft commonhold and leasehold bill published – campaigners remain sceptical
The government has published its long-awaited draft bill on commonhold and leasehold in what it says is a “game-changing shake up” of the leasehold system. The announcement was made in a TikTok video by the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in which he set out his plans for reform. The bill includes a £250 a […]
Design guidance aims to ‘raise the bar’ for new builds
The government has published updated new build design guidance which it says will ‘raise the bar’ for developments, ensuring they are well-connected to local shops and services and resilient to climate change. A consultation has been launched by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) to gather feedback on the guidance, which the […]
Conveyancing Association releases full conference agenda
The Conveyancing Association (CA) has released the full agenda for its annual conference, which will be held at the Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield (pictured) on 12 February. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the conference, which has the theme Conveyancing Under the Spotlight. Guests and participants will reflect on how conveyancing […]
LeO shares early resolution advice to cut ‘unnecessary escalation’
The latest Spotlight article from the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) focuses on early resolution, with practical steps for legal service providers to follow to resolve complaints at first tier. Clear communication, timely responses and proportionate remedies will all help resolve complaints before they escalate unnecessarily, the LeO says, leading to faster outcomes for customers. In 2024/25, […]
House prices up, but data is ‘out of date and irrelevant’
The latest UK House Price Index, covering November, reveals that average UK house price annual inflation was 2.5% in the 12 months to November 2025, up from the revised estimate of 1.9% in the 12 months to October 2025. The average UK house price was £271,000 in November 2025, £6,000 higher than 12 months ago. […]
Inflation target an ‘uphill climb’ as latest figures show increase to 3.4%
Property industry figures have described the latest inflation figures as “disappointing”, as the latest Consumer Prices Index (CPI) increased to 3.4% in the year to December; up from 3.2% in November. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said alcohol, tobacco and transport made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change, which remains above the […]
‘Rooftop revolution’ as government commits £15bn to better insulate homes
The government says it will “unleash a rooftop revolution” as part of efforts to install energy efficient home heating solutions in up to five million properties, in a bid to tackle long term energy costs and lift people out of fuel poverty. The prime minister has announced £15 billion of funding for home upgrades […]
Home buying and selling reform and the role of property logbooks
In the first episode of the latest series of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie dives into the fast‑evolving world of digital property logbooks joined by Sally Holdway, director of Homeowners Passport and sale and purchase lead at the Residential Logbook Association (RLBA), and Nigel Walley, CEO of Chimni and chair of the RLBA. […]
A third way for flat ownership: Why leasehold reform doesn’t have to mean commonhold
In this week’s in-depth look at leasehold from the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), Lucy Riley, ALEP member and legal director at Nockolds, explores an alternative to commonhold. The government’s intention to legislate for commonhold as the default tenure for flats marks one of the most significant shifts in residential property law for […]
Law firms urged to prioritise client experience as expectations continue to rise in 2026
Kate Roberts (pictured), head of marketing at Perfect Portal, shares some simple tips on how law firms can adapt services to meet client expectations. As client expectations continue to evolve in 2026, law firms are facing growing pressure to place greater focus on client experience or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive legal market. […]
‘The property market has weathered the storm’ – brighter days ahead
The final Property and Homemover Report for 2025 from TwentyCi and TwentyEA reveals a 10% increase in transactions compared to the previous year, with the highest number of properties listed for sale in a decade – over 1.7 million. Exchange volumes increased by 12.6% in comparison to 2024, ending the year at 986,665. The average […]
Only one use of QES for HMLR in three months
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has recorded the use of only one e-signature in the three months since it launched the technology for conveyancers, according to a report from Novus Strategy. The home buying and selling consultancy discovered the take-up rate following a freedom of information requestion to HMLR, which invited conveyancers to start using Qualified […]
New CoPSO strategy ‘will help drive digital transformation’
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), the trade association for the property search industry, has shared a new strategy which it says is designed to strengthen the property market and support its members as the sector embraces digital transformation. The strategy, released as the organisation celebrates its 25-year milestone, reinforces CoPSO’s role as “a […]
End of year mortgage activity fell, but data points to stable 2026
Mortgage market activity slowed sharply in December, reflecting the typical seasonal pause at the end of the year, but underlying data points to a stronger overall position than seen earlier in the autumn, according to the latest Twenty7tec Market Snapshot report. Total mortgage searches reached 1,088,120 in December, down 22.6% month on month compared with […]
LSB appoints Richard Orpin as new CEO
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Orpin (pictured) as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Orpin joined the LSB in 2023 as director of regulation and policy and has almost 20 years of experience in regulation and government. He has been interim chief executive at the LSB since summer 2025. The appointment was […]