The Law Society of Ireland has published a new Combined Building Agreement and Contract for Sale 2026, marking the first major update to the standard residential estate conveyancing framework in more than two decades.

The document was developed by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Committee in collaboration with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

The updated agreement responds to significant legal and regulatory developments since the previous Law Society of Ireland and CIF Building Agreement was issued in 2001. It combines the building agreement and contract for sale into a single, integrated document designed specifically for use in residential estates.

Policy director Brian Hunt said: “In a further effort to support conveyancing practice reform, this new template is designed specifically to streamline the conveyancing process in respect of new build properties in residential estates and will reduce anomalies and ambiguities, and will provide much-needed clarity for practitioners.”

The new Combined Building Agreement and Contract for Sale 2026 is intended exclusively for residential estates and is not suitable for one-off housing units. It applies to all new homes, including houses and apartments, within residential estate developments. While it must be used for qualifying properties on and after 1 February 2026, solicitors may begin using it from 1 January 2026.

The Law Society’s Conveyancing Committee has urged solicitors to adopt the new combined agreement “at the earliest opportunity”, highlighting its role in standardising documentation, reducing uncertainty, and aligning conveyancing practices with current legal requirements.

By consolidating contractual documentation and reflecting modern legal standards, the updated framework is intended to support greater efficiency and consistency across residential estate transactions involving solicitors, developers, and purchasers.

Read the full story on the Law Society’s updated conveyancing template and its impact for residential estate practitioners.

Photo credits to the Law Society of Ireland’s official Facebook page