Home buying and selling reforms
Share your views on the UK government’s proposed changes to the home buying and selling process.
The government has launched two consultations on:
- home buying and selling reform
- material information in property listings
We are developing responses to both consultations on behalf of our members and the wider legal sector.
Complete our survey
Tell us what you think of the UK government’s proposed reforms.
Complete our short consultation survey.
The survey closes at midnight on Friday 21 November.
It should only take around 10 minutes to complete.
You can provide feedback on how the reforms may affect conveyancing work, including:
- the digitisation of the home buying and selling process
- material information requirements
- data accuracy compliance
Your responses will help shape our formal submissions to the government’s consultations.
The survey also includes the option to take part in focus groups about the reforms.
Our relationships with government help us influence change on your behalf. With your experience and expertise behind us, we can make sure the government gets these reforms right.
By bringing our members together and responding with a strong collective voice, we can seize this moment to improve residential conveyancing for solicitors and clients.
As well as sharing your views with us, we encourage you to also respond to the government’s consultations directly:
Overview of the proposals
The UK government says its proposed conveyancing reforms will make buying and selling homes faster, cheaper and easier.
The reforms are focused on reducing the number of failed transactions.
They would:
- require sellers and estate agents to provide key information about a property upfront. This includes information about the condition of the home, leasehold costs and details of those involved in chains
- give buyers and sellers the option to enter into a binding contract earlier in the process
- expand the use of digital tools. This includes property logbooks, digital ID verification and data-sharing platforms
- introduce mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting and managing agents
The government would also publish consumer information on estate agents, property solicitors and conveyancers.
Find out more about the:
Our view
We welcome the UK government’s commitment to improving home buying and selling.
To improve the conveyancing process, we support:
- greater transparency in property chains
- regulation of estate agents
- early instruction of solicitors and conveyancers
- joined-up technology that is accessible to firms of all sizes
For any reforms to succeed, the government must look at the whole system, not just one part of it.
It must listen to solicitors and conveyancers, who are at the heart of buying and selling homes.
“We know that many feel the conveyancing process is slow and complicated,” said our vice-president, Mark Evans.
“It can also be confusing as to who should be doing what, and there is the risk of duplication of effort.
“Information is often not available as quickly or as easily as it should be.
“Making the right reforms would help address all of these issues.”
Next steps
We are working hard to meet the government’s tight deadlines, but this won’t be the end of the conversation.
We’ll keep you updated on future opportunities to have your say on the reforms.
As the reforms evolve, you can expect us to remain a steadfast advocate for our members’ interests.
We will continue to update this page with the latest developments. Bookmark the page in your web browser or My LS account to stay up to date.