Property

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and other property professionals believe their mental health is better than it has been since before the pandemic despite high levels of stress.

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.

Most conveyancers think they should be charging clients more but only a third say they and their colleagues know how to “confidently deal” with objections to fees from clients, a report has found.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to step up efforts to ensure compliance with continuing competence obligations, particularly among conveyancers and probate specialists.

Listed law firm Gateley has increased its non-legal professional capabilities by spending £6m on an East Midlands chartered surveyors practice, while also setting up a collective actions practice.

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has received “too many complaints” about some of the practices it regulates breaching undertakings.

The Law Society is pushing for more changes to the building safety provisions in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook after one was made last week.

A large conveyancing firm in the North-West is to close its doors on Friday, with its two directors taking some staff to join the practice owned by listed company Smoove.

Estate agents would “absolutely, categorically” accept conveyancers increasing their fees if it meant speeding up the process, an industry leader said last week.

Conveyancing firms are refusing to handle transactions involving flats in blocks with five or more storeys because of concerns about their liabilities under the Building Safety Act 2022.