In a ‘click and buy’ world where clients can instantly track a parcel after purchasing it in real time, it is understandable that some may hope for similar transparency and speed when buying or selling a home. However, according to the ‘Why don’t lower volumes mean faster property transactions?’ report, the average time it takes from a conveyancer instruction to completion for property transactions is 120 days. This highlights how much pressure is being placed on the conveyancer’s shoulders.
According to our ‘Why don’t lower volumes mean faster property transactions’ report, the average time from conveyancer instruction to completion for purchase transactions has increased by 34% comparing from 2019 to 2024. This is also fundamentally reshaping the role of a conveyancer, where they are expected to wear multiple hats and do their job at the same time. The additional burdens and responsibilities faced by conveyancers in the UK has contributed to the delays. Put simply, “scope creep” has hugely added to the job of being a property lawyer in recent years, but this fact has largely gone unnoticed by other stakeholders and in particular the clients they serve. A large amount of time is taken up as conveyancers need to work through additional paperwork and admin whilst simultaneously ensuring regulatory compliance. Rob Gurney, MD of Ochresoft, uses an analogy of a bakery to explain the way conveyancers currently must deal with property transactions. He asserts that bakers don’t usually start baking when they open the shop, instead they start prepping hours beforehand. This is so the products are ready to be sold as soon as they open the shop. This can be applied to property transactions, where the seller’s conveyancer should be preparing the legal pack upfront when the property is first listed on the market to reduce delays once a buyer is found.
How will technology help speed up property transactions?
According to the report “Why Don’t Lower Volumes Mean Faster Property Transactions?“, the length of time taken between enquiries raised and all replies received has increased by 30% from 2019 to 2024. When compared to 2007, the average time has risen from 26 days to 52 days — a staggering 100% increase.
When you consider that an estimated three quarters of enquiries are deemed to be unnecessary – i.e. they could or should have been covered off by an accurate and comprehensive contract pack at the outset – you can clearly see that upfront information is no longer to be regarded as optional – it’s a necessity if we are to turn the tide on spiralling conveyancing delays.
Conveyancing law firms in the UK are finding it increasingly challenging to deal with multiple issues and pressures coming from different angles. For example, some firms continue to rely on manual processes, which can be time-consuming and prone to inefficiencies. Combined with repeated client enquiries and communication bottlenecks, these factors can significantly slow down progress. There’s also a growth in compliance requirements around AML, SDLT and risk management which adds another layer of admin.
Technology like case management software can significantly ease the pressures that slow down conveyancing firms. With access to an extensive legal library, firms can quickly retrieve the necessary forms and documents, ensuring every aspect of a transaction is handled efficiently and with expert-level accuracy. Case management tools also eliminate duplicated work and save valuable time by offering pre-drafted client reports and guidance on common property searches. They reduce manual data entry by removing the need to double-key information, streamlining the entire process.
Overall, this technology enables firms to manage increasing transaction volumes more effectively, reduce operational bottlenecks, and consistently exceed client expectations.
Intelliworks offers specialised features that empower our customers to focus on what truly matters: consistently delivering a high-quality service to their clients and profitable outcomes. Our workflow service, developed by industry experts, is designed to simplify operations across a wide range of practice areas – maximising both efficiency and productivity.
Clients are demanding faster, clearer, and more transparent transactions. The tools exist today to make that possible. If your law firm hasn’t already explored different case management software, now is the time.
Explore our conveyancing workflows to see how it can make a difference
