Residential Property Law and Conveyancing Update 2026

Key Subjects

• Topical Property Issues
• Advising on Restrictive Covenants in Residential Transactions
• Rights of Way: Issues for Residential Conveyancers
• The “Top 5 Risks” for Leasehold Conveyancing
• 10 Tricky Issues and How to Deal With Them

Speakers

David Keighley, Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

Mari Knowles, Solicitor, Commonhold and Leasehold Experts Limited

Ian Quayle, Chief Executive, IQ Legal Training

Conference Programme

9.30am Chairman’s Introduction

Topical Property Issues

This session will examine recent case law, practice guides and related developments. To ensure the content is both topical and relevant the issues to be covered will be determined nearer the time but are likely to include:

• Land Registry Practice Guide updates
• UKFML Handbook changes
• A review of recent case law
• Practice points

David Keighley, Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

Advising on Restrictive Covenants in Residential Transactions 

Restrictive covenants continue to be a complex and often misunderstood area of property law, with significant implications for buyers, sellers, and conveyancers alike. This session will explore best practice and the practical and legal challenges involved in advising clients on covenants that limit the use, development, or enjoyment of residential land.

The talk will examine the key principles governing the enforceability and modification of restrictive covenants, discuss recent case law and will provide practical guidance on risk management and drafting strategies

• Getting the basics right
• Drafting issues
• Acting for the buyer reporting on title – tips and traps
• Using Defective Title Insurance to protect the buyer
• Applications under Section 84 Law of Property Act 1925
• Lessons from recent case law

Ian Quayle, Chief Executive, IQ Legal Training

The “Top 5 Risks” for Leasehold Conveyancing

This session will consider the top 5 risks and key considerations for those who undertake leasehold conveyancing, in an ever-changing landscape. The top 5 risks will include:

• The ongoing leasehold, freehold and commonhold reforms
• Renters Rights Act 2025 – impact on buy to let landlords in leasehold properties
• Net zero
• Resident-owned or managed buildings
• Landlord developments

Mari Knowles, Solicitor, Commonhold and Leasehold Experts Limited

Rights of Way:  Issues for Residential Conveyancers

• Defining the right of way – legal and physical extent
• Encroachment on a right of way
• Limits on a right of way for residential property
• Can a right of way be extinguished by abandonment?
• The rule in Harris v Flower
• Acquiring right of way by long user

David Keighley, Solicitor, Legal Lecturer and Trainer

10 Tricky Issues and How to Deal With Them

In this talk Ian will explore ten common tricky issues which conveyancers can be met with and how best to deal with them

• Dealing with notices on registered titles – is the notice protecting an interest in land? Can it be removed? What is the purpose of Section 77 of the Land Registration Act 2002?
• Dealing with problem restrictions on registered titles – can the restriction be complied with, could it be disapplied modified or cancelled?
• How to deal with boundary sensitivity – if there is an indistinct or unclear boundary or history of a boundary dispute what can be done and what advice should be given to the buyer?
• Combining registered titles – what problems can arise, can registered titles conjoin?
• Advising on search results – search limitations, adverse entries, and next steps to deal with outstanding issues, protecting the client and your firm when a cash buyer wants to proceed without searches or without waiting for search results
• Steps to be taken on exchange of contracts – when and how should a contract be protected?
• How to deal with restrictive covenants during due diligence – is the covenant enforceable? Does it impede the buyer’s objective? What advice should be given to the buyer client.
• How to deal with defective title insurance in residential transactions – obtaining the right cover, advising on the policy and advising the client
• Dealing with default at completion – acting for the innocent or defaulting party and giving appropriate advice.
• Getting co-ownership right – obtaining information from the client, giving correct advice and avoiding problems

Ian Quayle, Chief Executive, IQ Legal Training

5pm Close of Proceedings