On the latest episode of Landmark Talks Property, we were joined by OneSearch Client Relationship Manager John Margett and Tom Lyes, Head of Legal at Armalytix, to take a deep dive into the complexities surrounding Source of Funds (SoF) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidance within the legal sector, particularly for conveyancing.
The conversation unpacks the crucial ‘golden triangle’ of technology, people, and processes, emphasising that all three must be harmoniously integrated and invested in for effective AML. Tom shares his perspective on how the residential property sector has notably adapted to tightening AML pressures, even setting a precedent for other industries. Looking ahead, the discussion touches on the future of AML, including reducing duplication, the continued evolution and wider adoption of technology, the potential of Open Finance, and the ultimate aim of making UK property a robustly defended hard target against illicit funds.
To watch the webinar which accompanies this audio podcast, please click here.
To listen to more Landmark Talks Property episodes on Spotify, click here.
To find out more on Armalytix please visit armalytix.com
Building on the success of their new residential search reports launched last November, our parent company Landmark are delighted to unveil their new and improved commercial search reports.
The reports are designed to help commercial real estate professionals reduce the time spent interpreting data and access the information they need more easily.
Environmental Insights Remastered
Landmark’s remastered commercial reports feature unmatched data and clearly defined assessments that empowers commercial property lawyers to navigate the detail seamlessly. With enhanced clarity, they’ll provide all the relevant information to power confident decision-making.
Simple, straightforward, but never standard – led by commercial property lawyers
Landmark engaged with a large number of commercial property lawyers to shape the design and product brief. The overwhelming response was a call for reports that are more precise, easy to understand and easily direct you to the detail when required. Based on this valuable feedback, Landmark have refined the new commercial reports to be simple, straightforward, but with the most comprehensive information.
Comprehensive due diligence, made easy
- New and upgraded risk modules: Landmark have enhanced their reports to ensure they provide the most comprehensive reports in the market but also the simplest way to convey environmental risk.
- Optimised for today’s workflow: Visually enhanced front pages provide greater transparency for commercial property lawyers, saving valuable time.
- Executive summaries: New executive summary pages for both conveyancers and clients to quickly and easily understand which risks are relevant for that location and what to do next.
To view the remastered catalogue, click the related products links below. For details on Landmark’s new residential portfolio offering, click here.
The conveyancing sector is facing a perfect storm of challenges as 2025 gets up to full speed. Regulatory burdens and economic uncertainty, to the rise of AI and automation, all whilst battling clients demands and expectations; it’s a complex industry landscape, perhaps more so than ever before.
However, amongst these challenges, a spirit of resilience and proactivity is emerging. Conveyancers are taking control of the controllables; embracing innovation and seeking solutions to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
This shift in mindset is evident in the recent market research from Landmark Information Group. Over half of responders (52%) are now taking matters into their own hands by assigning workloads more effectively, while 34% are digitising more processes. Proactively sourcing new business and investing in improved training are also high on responders 2025 priorities.
What Tech Can Do For You
Understanding and integrating new technology can be a daunting task for conveyancing firms, especially with the rapid pace of recent advancements.
“Everybody’s grappling with the fact that the technological capabilities [in conveyancing] are accelerating at such a pace,” admitted Rob Steadman, Sales Director within Landmark Information Group.
“If you deploy AI today, tomorrow there’s almost like the next better version of AI to change it.”
Liz Jarvis, Managing Director of OneSearch highlights the need for dedicated education and training: “There’s an assumption by a lot of people that there’s all this information out there about tech, prop tech, and AI technology, and how it can help your firm. But actually, I don’t think that that’s fully translated into how it can be adopted.
“I think conveyancers and others doing this role, they actually need a lot more information about what that can do [for them] specifically, rather than big noise of a release of this technology. What does it mean to me and to my firm? How long will it take me? How long and what cost will it take for this to embed in my business?
“There’s the worry, what if I invest this money now? Is it obsolete in 12 months’ time?”
The feels are reflected in the market research; 62% of respondents listed the knowledge gap within their team as an aspect which has challenged progress, as well as the slow pace of change towards a digital outlook (62%).
Collaboration and Communication: Bridging the Gaps
Another key theme for 2025 is the need for improved communication and collaboration among all stakeholders in the property transaction process. Participants highlighted the frustration caused by chasing information and the lack of transparency in the system.
Liz Jarvis continued along this point: “One of the biggest frustrations and things that is wasting time really is that chasing one another through all different parts of the process whether it would be a surveyor, an estate agent, the other side of the transaction, the purchaser or the vendor.
“I wonder why it’s taken a really long time. It feels like the thing we’ve never really been able to solve is this transparency or ability to see what other people are doing, putting information in a central place where everyone can access it together instead of it being phone calls and email.”
This desire for greater transparency and collaboration points to the need for solutions that can bring all stakeholders together in a central hub, providing a single source of truth and facilitating seamless information sharing.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Bold Leadership and Continued Innovation
The recent market research from Landmark paints a picture of a sector that is facing challenges head-on, embracing innovation, and actively seeking solutions to improve efficiency and client experience. Conveyancers are taking control, demanding more from technology providers, and prioritising collaboration and communication.
Moving forward, direction and continued innovation will be crucial. As Rob Steadman emphasised, “It’s going to come down to bold leadership across the sector to be clearly heard as to what their priorities are.”
By working together, conveyancers, technology providers, and other stakeholders can create a more efficient, transparent, and client-centric property transaction process. The challenges are real, but the opportunities are even greater.
The Landmark 2024 residential conveyancing survey tells a ‘tale of two halves’. One is about hope for economic stability as we enter autumn with listings and sales volumes rising, and interest rates falling. The other is about how conveyancers are still struggling with slow transaction times, insufficient resources, and general lack of transparency. For more details, be sure to download the market research results today.
OneSearch is delighted to co-host a unique networking event celebrating not only International Women’s Day 2025, but also our one-year partnership with our close friends at Ladies of Law!
Located at the iconic Jam House in Birmingham, this event will present an opportunity to celebrate women in law and the incredible achievements of our community.
Join us on 6th March from 6:00 – 8:30pm as we come together to celebrate women in law and their amazing achievements. This will be an incredible opportunity to network with professionals at all stages of their careers, exchange ideas, and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in the legal industry.
What to Expect:
- A welcome drink to kick things off
- Delicious food to enjoy
- Live music to follow if you decide to stay and keep the celebration going!
- Inspiring talks from inspiring women
Claire Slade, Business Development Manager at OneSearch said: “We are incredibly excited to celebrate International Women’s Day and our one-year partnership with Ladies of Law. This event will definitely be a massive testament to the strength and achievements of women in the legal industry, and we look forward to an evening of inspiration, connection, and celebration.”
Ella Watts, the founder of Ladies of Law, added: “We cannot wait for this networking event, which will be our first of the year, and our first in Birmingham. Any opportunity to bring together an amazing group of professionals is reason enough to celebrate, but to have it the week of International Women’s Day, as we also commemorate one year of partnering with OneSearch makes it even more special. This event will be all about recognising the incredible contributions of women in law and fostering a supportive community where we can all thrive.”
It’s going to be a magical evening, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Tickets will be limited, so make sure you don’t miss out!
Environmental insights are changing!
Our parent company Landmark Information Group are thrilled to share the launch of a remastered range of residential environmental search reports specifically designed to help you feel confident with search results, spend less time interpreting data and more time delivering excellent customer service.
Environmental Insights Remastered
Landmark’s remastered reports will still contain unmatched data and renowned in-house expert support but now with greater clarity, helping you navigate the most complex transactions, seamlessly.
Remastered content and design, led by conveyancers
To support these latest updates, Landmark engaged with over 200 residential conveyancers, from high street to multi practice firms; the invaluable feedback they provided together with Landmark’s 30 years of experience in property and land data, has allowed Landmark to remaster and shape environmental reports that properly satisfy the need for readability, comprehension and expediency.
Comprehensive due diligence, made easy
- New and upgraded risk modules to ensure we provide not only the most comprehensive reports in the market but the simplest way to convey environmental risk.
- Visually enhanced front pages – providing greater transparency for conveyancers to save valuable time.
- New executive summary pages for both conveyancers and homebuyers to understand quickly and easily which risks are relevant for that location and what to do next.
- Homebuyer guidance – to ensure your clients understand the report context.
Remastered Delivery
From the research Landmark carried out, PDF delivery is still extremely popular, but there was an awareness that digital formats will be the future moving forward. To support and prepare conveyancers with this transition Landmark’s remastered reports will be digitally enabled, giving choice on how you want to receive environmental insight information in the future.
To view the remastered catalogue, click the related products links below.
Climate change is no longer a ‘next generation’ threat; it’s on our doorstep impacting many different aspects of our lives, not least within the property sector.
Buildings are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and the effects of climate change are posing considerable risks to property values and future habitability. It is now undeniable that our sector needs to adapt.
“The property sector is a big part of the problem, as today, 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from our buildings. If left unchecked, this is set to double by 2050.”
– Chris Loaring, Group Sustainability Director, Landmark Information Group
To understand how the property industry is starting to adapt, Landmark conducted comprehensive market research of 150 senior level employees working in estate agency, residential conveyancing, and mortgage lending across England, Scotland and Wales. Our findings have helped us gauge the growing commitment towards sustainability, and how we can help support and nurture this further.
The consensus from the industry
Our report, “Climate change in the property sector: a cross-market perspective,” takes a thorough dive into the findings:
Growing concern
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. A significant majority of property professionals (72%) recognise the urgent need to address its impacts. This growing awareness is driving a shift towards sustainable practices within the industry.
Client awareness
Property professionals said that clients are increasingly concerned about the potential effects of climate change on their property purchases. Flooding (60%), energy efficiency (58%), and local planning (56%) are among the top priorities for homebuyers. As climate risks become more apparent, these concerns are influencing decision-making processes.
Shifting practices
The property industry is adapting to the changing climate, and more professionals are actively advising clients. For example, mortgage lenders are, on average, advising 48% of their clients on potential climate change risks to their property, a similar number can also be seen from estate agents (49%).
Room for improvement
While the industry is making progress, there is still room for improvement. Less than 60% of conveyancing firms are currently on track to meet carbon emission targets. This highlights the need for continued efforts to reduce the industry’s environmental impact.
Encouragingly, more businesses have created net zero strategies (76%, up from 52% in 2023). Conveyancers have made significant progress, with 48% having published their own strategies. This is a demonstrable sign at just how much positive momentum towards solutions the industry is taking when it comes to the fight against climate change.
Download our report
To gain a deeper understanding of the trends and insights from our research, download your copy of ‘Climate change in the property sector: a cross-market perspective‘ here:
*World Green Building Council report: Embodied Carbon – World Green Building Council (worldgbc.org)