Property
Pre-contract enquiries platform aims to save conveyancers “weeks”
A pre-contract enquiries platform created by a law firm founder and already used by 230 lawyers, aims to cut “weeks not days” from conveyancing transaction times.
Nearly half of homebuyers say lawyers are too slow in responding
Slow response time is by far the biggest ‘pain point’ homebuyers have when dealing with conveyancers, according to new research.
Upfront information takes centre stage in conveyancing “roadmap”
Expanding the amount of mandatory upfront information which must be provided by sellers when a property is marketed is a central part of the “roadmap” for the future of home moving.
PEXA agrees £31m Smoove deal in bid to grow conveyancing presence
PEXA, the Australian conveyancing technology giant that last year bought a UK law firm, is set to expand significantly after agreeing a £31m deal by buy listed company Smoove.
SRA fines firm that failed to comply with undertaking
A law firm has been fined by the SRA for a “fundamental and prolonged failure” to comply with an undertaking it had given in a conveyancing transaction.
Digital protocol prepares conveyancers for “huge step forward”
The Conveyancing Association has launched a future digital conveyancing protocol to help firms prepare for the “huge step forward” that greater use of upfront information and technology will achieve.
Next stage in upfront property information to begin next month
Rules on the information that must be included in property listings are to be extended next month to cover issues such as restrictive covenants and flood risks, National Trading Standards has said.
Solicitor who changed date of legal charge is struck off
A solicitor who changed the date on a legal charge having missed the deadline for registration at Companies House has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Government “unlikely to mandate” ways to speed up conveyancing
The government was yesterday told repeatedly of the need to mandate conveyancers and the rest of the home-moving sector to adopt new ways of working – but the calls look set to fall on deaf ears.
SRA told to pay solicitor £75k in costs for failed prosecution
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been slapped with a £75,000 costs order after making an “essential mistake of law” in a failed prosecution of a solicitor.
Binding offers backed by AI “could end conveyancing uncertainty”
The introduction of binding offers, backed by widespread use of artificial intelligence, holds the key to improving the conveyancing process, a leading figure has predicted.
Solicitor “cut corners” when exchanging contracts on property sale
A judge has refused to order the sale of a house after finding that the buyer’s solicitor “cut corners” and did not hold a signed contract at the point of exchange, despite claiming he did.
Law firm fined for paying proceeds of sale to third party
A law firm which failed to follow its internal processes and transferred the proceeds of a property sale to a third party has been fined for misconduct.
Conveyancers positive about mental health despite high stress levels
Conveyancers and other property professionals believe their mental health is better than it has been since before the pandemic despite high levels of stress.
Freezing order for disbarred barrister acting as McKenzie Friend
A one-time barrister disbarred in 2016 has had her assets frozen over allegations of misappropriating money from a client while acting as a McKenzie Friend.
Blog
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
The SRA’s 2025 AML report: What law firms need to know
The SRA has released its 2024-25 anti-money laundering report and the scale of supervision is striking – it carried out 935 proactive engagements in the year to 5 April 2025.
