The real strain on conveyancing teams is not always visible from the outside. It sits in the background, building across the day in small, repeated tasks that rarely move a case forward but still demand time and attention.
Chasing updates, responding to follow-ups and re-sending information have become part of the process rather than the exception. Each task on its own feels routine and, taken together, they now account for a significant share of the working day.
That is not just anecdotal. Research from Landmark Information Group at the end of 2024 found that conveyancers spend around 43% of their time either chasing other parties or being chased themselves. More than half also said the time taken to complete transactions is their biggest frustration, ahead of both regulatory pressure and workload levels.
This data points to a wider issue. The pressure is not simply about how much work there is, but how that work is structured and how much of it is absorbed by administration.
The cost of a fragmented process
Most firms are already operating close to capacity. Caseloads remain high, margins are tight and expectations continue to rise. In that environment, even small inefficiencies can have a clear impact.
A key issue is how information moves between parties. The same details are often requested more than once, while documents pass through emails, portals and case systems without a consistent structure. Queries can take longer than expected to resolve, not because they are complex, but because they sit across disconnected channels.
This is most evident between offer and completion. While earlier stages of the mortgage journey have seen plenty of digital progress, this part of the process still relies heavily on manual updates and fragmented communication.
The result is misalignment rather than lack of effort. Each party is working to move the case forward, yet without a shared view, time is spent checking status and clarifying next steps. Across a full caseload, this becomes a steady drain on time.
When admin starts to shape outcomes
The impact is not limited to transaction timelines; it changes how teams operate and where effort is spent.
Fee earners are drawn into managing communication rather than progressing legal work. Supervisors have less clarity on case status, making it harder to identify delays early and new starters take longer to build confidence because the process is less transparent.
There is also a risk element. Increased manual handling of data raises the chance of inconsistency, particularly where the same information is entered or checked more than once.
At the same time, expectations continue to rise. Regulatory demands are expanding, lenders require accurate and timely updates, and clients expect a smoother experience. The gap between what is required and how the process currently operates is becoming harder to ignore.
A shift towards simpler, connected working
The response is taking shape, with the focus shifting from simply working faster to reducing duplication and improving how information is shared.
That shift is reflected in how newer platforms are being developed. Instead of asking for the same information multiple times, there is a move towards verifying data once through trusted sources and reusing it where needed. This reduces repeated requests and limits unnecessary follow-up.
Communication is also becoming more structured. Queries and updates are handled within defined workflows rather than long email chains, making it clearer what has been done and what remains outstanding.
Some solutions, such as VERSA Assure, reflect this direction. They focus on proactively managing how panel information is maintained giving lenders clearer oversight, without adding to the workload of conveyancers. Automated checks and configurable rules support this approach.
More broadly, the shift is towards a more connected model. Systems are designed to work together, allowing information to move more easily between parties. Integration with case management platforms and external data sources reduces rekeying and improves consistency across the transaction.
Creating space for the work that matters
Administrative pressure is unlikely to disappear, but it does not need to define the working day.
Reducing duplication, improving data accuracy and creating a clearer flow of information can ease the burden without changing the fundamentals of conveyancing work. Even modest improvements, applied consistently, can make a meaningful difference across a full caseload.
In a market where margins are tight and expectations remain high, that shift is becoming increasingly important in helping firms reduce overheads while improving overall efficiency.
This article was submitted by e4 Strategic as part of an advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
