Property
Government presses ahead with HMRC register plan for conveyancers
The government gave no sign of backing down on requiring conveyancers to register as tax advisers with HM Revenue & Customs in this week’s debate on the Finance Bill.
Eight out of 10 conveyancing firms using AI
Eight out of 10 conveyancing firms used artificial intelligence to support fee-earners last year, double the proportion that did so in 2024, new research has found.
UK Finance u-turns on charge for accessing Lenders’ Handbook
UK Finance has backtracked on its plan to charge conveyancers £50 per user to access the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook, in the face of a furious reaction.
Solicitor struck off for selling property without co-owner’s knowledge
A solicitor who sold a property he part-owned without the knowledge of his co-owner has been struck off, with the SDT finding he was “primarily motivated” by resentment.
Fee for accessing Lenders’ Handbook infuriates conveyancers
Conveyancers have reacted furiously to the introduction of an annual fee of £50 per user to access the the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook.
Legal market to grow “in all areas” as PE extends reach
The legal services market will grow across all practice areas in 2026 for the first time since Covid, researchers have predicte, while a growing private equity presence is “a continuing theme”.
Treasury urged to exempt conveyancers from tax adviser registration
The government has been urged to reconsider plans to make conveyancers register individually with HM Revenue & Customs as tax advisers because they deal with SDLT.
Head of property certified ID documents without seeing them
The head of commercial property at a law firm who certified a client’s ID documents as true and complete copies without seeing the originals has been struck off.
Tribunal fines solicitor for source of funds and lender failures
A solicitor has been fined £7,500 for failing to carry out source of funds checks and keep lenders properly updated about where purchase money was coming from.
Property Ombudsman fires warning over conditional selling
The Property Ombudsman has told home buyers to stand up for themselves in the face of estate agency pressure to use a preferred conveyancer or other service provider.
Blog
Firms need to move faster on AI pricing
Law firms are trying to rethink pricing while still operating on business models fundamentally built around time.
The overlooked hate crime reform in Crime & Policing Act
Reforms introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 mark a significant development in hate crime law in England and Wales, recognising hostility related to sex as an aggravated offence.
The SRA’s strict liability gamble has failed. Good
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Dentons v SRA on 27 April, and the profession is right to welcome it. It is the second time in short succession that the court has corrected the SRA.
