UK Law Societies oppose new charge for conveyancers

The Law Society of Scotland, in conjunction with the Law Societies of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, has voiced strong opposition to plans for a new charge on conveyancers from lenders.

Conveyancing firms face increased costs following a proposal by UK Finance to charge for access to its Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook. The new charge could add significant sums to firms’ operating costs, which will inevitably be passed on to clients and ultimately lead to increased costs for consumers buying and selling their homes across the UK.

All three law societies are working together to oppose UK Finance’s plan to introduce an annual £50 plus VAT per user charge on 2 March 2026. In addition to an initial failure by UK Finance to properly consult, the professional bodies have criticised the lender organisation for a lack of engagement regarding its intentions. These go against UK Government aims, and recent consultation, to improve and reduce the cost of the home buying and selling process.

Patricia Thom, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “This is a completely unreasonable cost for conveyancers. It’s unclear why this charge is being forced on our members and their clients rather than being absorbed by the lenders. UK Finance has provided no reasonable justification for this.

“There has been very little to no engagement on this proposal and the potential long-term consequences. It’s why, together with Law Society of England and Wales and Law Society of Northern Ireland, we have highlighted our deep concern about this charge and the detrimental impact it will have on consumers and the housing market. We will continue to press for it to be dropped.”