Having an offer accepted on a property should feel like a major milestone. But getting from “offer accepted” to “completion” can sometimes feel like a very different story. New research suggests that conveyancing is now seen by many homebuyers as one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth property transaction — even more so than property chains.

The future of the United Kingdom is once again being discussed, with the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meeting in Cardiff to discuss closer cooperation, economic issues, energy, Europe and wider constitutional questions.

The UK rental market is entering a new chapter, and landlords, tenants and letting agents are all having to adapt. One of the biggest changes is the move away from traditional fixed-term tenancy arrangements towards rolling, or periodic, tenancies.

The UK property market is entering another important period of change. The Government has confirmed plans to introduce independent regulation of property agents, with the intention of giving consumers greater protection and creating higher professional standards across the sector.