Conveyancing has been identified as the primary factor slowing property transactions, according to research from a UK law firm that surveyed more than 1,000 recent homebuyers.
The study, conducted by Lyons Bowe Solicitors, found that 42% of homeowners who purchased property in the past two years cited conveyancing as the biggest barrier to a smooth transaction, significantly outweighing concerns about property chains, which were flagged by just 19% of respondents.
Communication delays
Slow communication between buyers’ and sellers’ conveyancers emerged as the leading cause of delays, with 23% of respondents identifying it as the primary issue during the legal stages of their transaction. When asked who held the greatest influence over transaction progress, 49% pointed to conveyancers, though 33% said responsibility was shared across all parties involved.
The findings suggest systemic communication issues that could impact transaction timelines across the market, particularly as competition in property markets intensifies. Faster responses from and between conveyancers would have made the biggest difference to transaction efficiency, according to 24% of respondents, while 20% called for better communication between all parties.
Visibility concerns
A lack of transparency during the conveyancing process also emerged as a significant pain point. Some 42% of buyers reported that their visibility of the process was lowest during the conveyancing stage, making it difficult to understand progress on their purchase.
When asked what single change would improve the homebuying experience, 23% said they would reduce the length and complexity of conveyancing, while 17% wanted more legal and property information available upfront.
Paul Lyons, Managing Director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, acknowledged the inherent complexity of the process. “Conveyancing will always involve legal complexity and depend on information coming from a number of different parties, and while this means things can take longer than buyers and sellers might hope for, it does not mean the process needs to feel opaque or unnecessarily difficult for the client,” he said.
Market implications
The research highlights operational inefficiencies that could affect transaction volumes and completion rates, particularly relevant as the property market navigates regulatory changes. The issues identified may be compounded in competitive markets where supply constraints are already creating pressure on both sales and rental sectors.
The findings suggest that improvements to communication protocols and transparency in the conveyancing process could reduce transaction times and improve client satisfaction across the property market.
