Nationwide has become the first lender to allow a mortgage deed to be signed electronically using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).
Any Nationwide customer purchasing a property or remortgaging will now be able to sign their mortgage deed electronically if their conveyancer or solicitor uses QES.
The development is the result of a collaboration between HM Land Registry, Your Conveyancer and Veyco, following HMLR’s decision to begin accepting QES last year. A freedom of information request by Novus Strategy earlier this year revealed HMLR had recorded the use of only one QES submission in the three months following the launch.
With the adoption by Nationwide and the first use of QES in a mortgage deed outside of a pilot trial, their use is expected to increase.
“A QES offers better protection for consumers,” Nationwide said.
“It proves who signed the deed, better protects against tampering and has the equivalent legal standing of a handwritten, witnessed signature. It also ensures that contract exchanging can happen much quicker.”
Veyco, which provided the technology used in the transaction, said the use of QES into lenders’ mortgage processes will help to reduce fraud.
“The introduction of Qualified Electronic Signatures into lenders’ mortgage processes represents a genuine sea change for the industry, removing friction for borrowers while eradicating fraud, risk, and uncertainty for lenders on what is arguably their most important document, the legal charge,” director Edd Prosser-Jones said.
Your Conveyancer was the first conveyancer to use the new electronic mortgage document via its integration with Veyco, sending the deed on a remortgage application for registration.
“Being the first conveyancer to complete a mortgage using QES is a major milestone for us and for the wider conveyancing industry,” said managing director Martin Bourke.
“This has only been possible through close collaboration with Nationwide, HM Land Registry and Veyco. It demonstrates what can be achieved when the industry works together to modernise the homebuying and remortgage process.
“The innovation removes one of the last remaining paper-based steps in the transaction, helping clients and customers complete their remortgage or purchase transaction utilising a fully digital journey.
“The introduction of QES benefits all parties involved, including a reduction in the risk of mortgage fraud, a reduction in requisitions from HM Land Registry, and a platform for clients and customers to sign the legal charge electronically, removing the need for the document to be witnessed and returned by post to the acting conveyancer.”
Andy Roddy, deputy director of digital services at HMLR, said Nationwide’s use of QES is a significant step forward for the UK property market. “The adoption of QES marks a positive shift towards a more efficient, digital future for property professionals and consumers alike,” he said.
“This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration across the sector and responds to the changing needs of our customers. Our Strategy 2025+ lays out how we aim to support the creation of systems to support services for property ownership and to strengthen buying and selling property to make it easier for all.
“By embracing QES, Nationwide is not only enhancing security and speeding up the process for homebuyers but also paving the way for wider adoption across the market.
“We look forward to seeing others follow Nationwide’s lead, helping to make property transactions simpler and safer for everyone.”
Mary-Lou Press, president of NAEA Propertymark, welcomed the announcement, which she said will help to remove unnecessary delays from the home buying process. “The conveyancing process remains one of the most common sources of frustration for buyers and sellers, with more than 30% of housing transactions taking over 17 weeks to complete on average,” she said.
“Embracing digital solutions has the potential not only to speed up transactions, but also to improve accuracy, reduce administrative burdens and give buyers and sellers greater confidence as they move through the system.”
Press also encouraged conveyancers to adopt the use of QES, adding:
“As the homebuying process continues to modernise, it is vital that these innovations are adopted consistently across the mortgage and conveyancing sectors. Widespread take-up could play a significant role in reducing transaction times, improving consumer experience, and helping to create a more efficient and resilient housing market overall.”
Henry Jordan is Nationwide’s group director of mortgages. He said:
“Nationwide is committed to speeding up the homebuying process and reducing the stress and inconvenience that can come with buying a home. Technology and collaboration are key to driving convenience and that is why we’re delighted to have worked with HM Land Registry, Your Conveyancer and Veyco to become the first mortgage lender to allow electronic signatures on mortgage deeds.”
2 responses
It’s worth keeping a sense of proportion here.HM Land Registry’s own figures show that only one qualified e‑signature has been used in the three months since the service went live. That tells its own story.
If anything, the new mechanism is a fraud‑prevention tool—useful in its place—but the idea that it will meaningfully speed up transactions simply isn’t borne out by the evidence. The delays in the system have very little to do with how a deed is signed and everything to do with capacity, supervision, lender requirements, enquiries, and the sheer volume of legislative and procedural complexity now sitting on conveyancers’ desks.
The only people talking about this as a transformational fix tend to be those with something to sell. Most practitioners know that genuine improvement will come from clearer processes, better resourcing, and consistent professional oversight, not from presenting a niche tool as a silver bullet.
Sometimes the quiet facts speak louder than the marketing.
I disagree with Mr Larcombe. Needing an independent witness who is over eighteen and not a family member can be a challenge for people when they need to sign a Conveyancing TR1 document. With a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) system, the need for a witness is removed. Buyer and Seller can sign in their own time and space on a mobile, laptop or a computer. It is the little things that make the difference in complex transactions. The more of the Conveyancing that is automated the better. Conveyancing time is approximately twenty weeks at the moment. Every little helps.