In new poll by One Mortgage System (OMS) and Smoove, 56% of mortgage brokers identified chasing solicitors as their biggest frustration with the conveyancing process.
A further 16% highlighted delays in receiving updates from solicitors, while 14% pointed to clients not understanding where they were in the process. Delays in obtaining documents or responding to enquiries were also cited by 14% of respondents.
The survey, conducted during recent webinar, aimed to explore how brokers engage with conveyancers and the challenges they face during mortgage transactions alongside the role brokers play in recommending conveyancers to their clients.
Analysis showed 38% say they made a recommendation on more than half of their mortgage transactions, including 25% who did so on almost every case. Nearly four in 10 (38%) said they rarely or never recommended a conveyancer, while a further 25% only did so occasionally when asked by a client.
When questioned about how they selected a conveyancer to recommend, 40% cited an existing relationship or panel as their primary consideration, while 24% pointed to the client’s own choice.
Jodie Andrews, head of marketing, sales & partnerships at One Mortgage System, commented: “The findings highlight the different approaches brokers take to recommending conveyancers, but also some of the common frustrations they face once a mortgage application progresses to the legal stage.
“Regardless of whether a broker has recommended a particular solicitor, they are often the first point of contact when clients want to know why their transaction isn’t progressing, even when the cause of the delay sits outside their control.”
David Burt, UK sales manager at Smoove, added: “The poll highlights how much time brokers can spend chasing updates as a property transaction progresses. Four of the seven respondents identified chasing solicitors for progress as their biggest frustration, underlining how important clear, timely communication is.
“Brokers are often the link between their clients and the legal process, so regular updates can help them keep clients informed and reduce the uncertainty around what happens next.
“It was also found in this poll, that one in four respondents said they recommended a conveyancer on almost every transaction, suggesting there is an opportunity to build brokers’ confidence in recommending conveyancing more consistently.
