Conveyancers face an HMRC deadline to register as tax advisers by 18 August if they submit SDLT returns or otherwise interact with HMRC on clients’ property tax matters. While registration itself appears manageable for many firms, commentators warn that the requirement may mark the start of broader compliance expectations around identifying and escalating complex SDLT issues.
The article examines concerns raised about the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, arguing that greater control for unit holders may also bring significant financial, legal and governance responsibilities. It highlights that key operational details, including voting rights and dispute resolution, are expected to be set out in future regulations rather than in the bill itself.
The Conveyancing Information Executive has updated its climate change compliance note to reflect changing lender expectations and a stronger focus on evidence-based management of climate-related risks in property transactions. The revision aligns with the Prudential Regulation Authority's updated supervisory approach and expands attention to both physical risks, such as flooding and wildfires, and transition risks, including energy performance.
A solicitor with nearly five decades of practice has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after admitting multiple conveyancing failings across three transactions. The case involved delayed or failed HM Land Registry registration, unanswered requisitions, breach of an undertaking, and non-cooperation with the SRA investigation, with the tribunal finding the conduct deliberate, repeated and serious.
The article argues that conveyancing firms should not trust AI tools simply because they produce fluent, confident answers. It says suppliers should be asked how accuracy was measured, against what benchmark, and how the tool performs on high-risk errors, especially where outputs are relied on as assurances.
The article reports concerns raised at a conveyancing AML roundtable that compliance in UK law firms has become increasingly burdensome, with firms collecting more documentation and duplicating checks without clear gains in risk detection. Participants argued that over-compliance is adding stress, unbillable work and inefficiency, and suggested more proportionate, reasoning-led processes supported by technology.
The article argues that while agentic AI can help with administrative tasks in conveyancing, it should not be trusted to make liability-bearing legal judgements without explicit, expert-authored rules and verified data. It describes Moverly's DiligenceEngine as a system designed to assess conveyancing risks using structured playbooks and provenance-tagged information, with an initial focus on auction property packs.
The article discusses the Government’s consultation on home buying and selling reform, welcoming proposals aimed at improving upfront property information, digital property logbooks, conveyancing, professional standards and leasehold transactions. It argues that technology should support a better overall transaction experience rather than be treated as the end goal, with greater emphasis on communication, collaboration and trusted information flow.
The article argues that first-time buyer deposits are becoming harder to verify because more buyers are using multiple accounts and gifted contributions to assemble funds. It says this is increasing source-of-funds checks and friction for conveyancers, particularly where giftors must also be verified to the same regulatory standard.
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has challenged a Legal Services Consumer Panel report, saying it still contains inaccuracies despite a published clarification. The dispute centres on how the BBC Panorama investigation into conditional selling and referral fees was described, and whether the CLC was unfairly linked to the practices under scrutiny.
The article reports a mixed view among conveyancers on the use of AI, based on a Dye & Durham roundtable discussion. Participants said AI is already useful for administrative efficiency and file review, but remains unreliable for legal judgment, title analysis and client-facing advice without human oversight.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal reprimanded a solicitor after finding he failed to provide adequate information, client care arrangements and advice in a property transfer involving a client’s home. The tribunal accepted the misconduct arose from a single transaction and dismissed allegations of manifest incompetence, but still imposed a reprimand and £6,000 costs.
