With the party conference season now in full swing, we have once again been reminded…
As we come to the end of the year, I want to share a short update on the Government consultations on the home buying and selling process/material information, which are now under way, the work we are doing to gather views from across our member firms, and what we have planned over the coming weeks.
I also want to touch on the wider market mood as we wait to see what the Budget brings on the 26th November, and to offer my thanks to all of you for the work you have done during what has been a demanding period.
Two consultations are open, both of which go to the heart of the home moving process. They will (re)shape the work of conveyancers in the years ahead and it is right we take the time needed to set out clear and honest responses.
Our aim is simple. We want our response to reflect the views of our members. This is not a case of the Association setting out a view and expecting members to fall in line. It is the other way round.
We want to hear from you, and we want to adjust our position if we have read something in the wrong way. If you feel we have missed something, or that your own day-to-day work points to a different view, then please tell us. Your insight is what will make any response from us stronger.
To help with this, we are holding a joint online session with the CLC and the SLC later this month, and we have our own roundtable webinar on the 3rd December. You can register to attend the latter by visiting this page here.
Both events are chances for you to give feedback, to tell us where the proposals work, and to point out where you see risk or added strain. It also gives us the chance to look at areas where the proposals overlap and create added tests for firms. I would urge all firms to take part, either by joining the sessions or by feeding back in writing. Every view is welcome.
We are also keeping a close eye on the state of the market. The long run-up to the Budget, and the steady stream of leaks and commentary, has had a real, and not overly positive, impact.
We can see signs of a slowdown, and for now it may be felt more by estate agents than by conveyancers, but we know from past cycles that a drop in listings and sales will come through the pipeline in time. The truth is we cannot yet see how deep or long that effect may be.
Some of that will depend on the final Budget detail, some on what steps the Government takes to steady confidence, and some on how buyers and sellers respond once the noise has settled.
What we can say with some confidence is that this long period of uncertainty has not been helpful. Firms need clarity. Staff need clarity. Clients need clarity. Instead we have had rumour, half-formed ideas and repeated hints of changes before anything firm has been announced.
It is hard for any market to hold its nerve in that sort of climate. This is why we continue to stress the need for a stable plan and clear signals and certainty from Government. It also reinforces why member feedback on the consultations is so important. We want to be a strong voice at a time when the sector needs steady and thoughtful policy, not yet more confusion.
Finally, as this may be my final note before Christmas, I also want to recognise the pressure everyone has been under this year. Many of you have taken on heavy caseloads, trained new staff, dealt with system changes, and kept clients updated during a period of constant shifts. None of that is easy.
I hope all of you have time set aside over the festive season to rest, to switch off and to spend time with those close to you. You have earned it, and it matters more than ever that people step into the new year with the energy they need.
We also look forward to seeing many of you at our Conference in early 2026, further details of which, including how to attend, can be found here. It will be a welcome chance to be together again, to share updates post-consultations, to talk through the market, and to set out the next steps for our work.
For now, thank you for all you have done this year and please do keep sharing your thoughts with us. Your voice is what gives the Association its strength.
Nicky Heathcote is Non-Executive Chair at The Conveyancing Association