The total number of e-signatures used at HM Land Registry by the first quarter of this year is five, according to a freedom of information request.
Just two businesses have started submitting Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) since HMLR invited conveyancers and others to start using them last August. Just one e-signature was used by the end of 2025.
Property market consultancy Novus Strategy uncovered the HMLR figures, but CEO Claire Van der Zant believes they don’t tell the whole story and predicts adoption will see “exponential growth” after a slow start.
“You can’t just flick a switch and start using QES tomorrow,” Van der Zant explained. “QES is just one of the components that unlocks interoperability in the property transaction.
“Lenders, conveyancers and every organisation involved should be actively assessing where data and processes cause friction and break the customer journey. Only once you do that, both internally and externally, can you build the foundations that unlock solutions such as QES, and start to tackle the fall-throughs and excessive completion times that plague industry.
“This is the configuration conundrum all firms are having to navigate. It’s less about whether the technology is fit for purpose, and much more about redesigning the customer journey to leverage new digital components, Smart Data and orchestration infrastructure.
“This is why QES was never going to be an overnight success and why we’ve always said that rising QES use will signal that much more is going on behind the scenes. This isn’t a question of willingness to adopt, it’s a symptom of ability to adapt.”
HMLR told Today’s Conveyancer it shares the industry’s ambition for QES to become standard practice in property transactions, and remains focused on making the journey as straightforward as possible.
A spokesperson said: “HM Land Registry began accepting Qualified Electronic Signatures in August 2025 and we are pleased to see early adoption already under way.
“As with any significant technological shift in a complex, regulated sector, we expected adoption to build gradually as firms configure their systems, select providers, and adapt their processes.”
Conveyancers wishing to adopt the use of QES should select an eIDAS-compliant provider, ensure compatibility with their existing workflows, and complete HMLR’s onboarding process.
HMLR added it has been working closely with early adopters to support them through this, and the feedback has been positive.
Nationwide Building Society’s first submission in February 2026 was a significant milestone, and HMLR expects it to encourage other lenders and conveyancing firms to accelerate their own preparations.
The organisation said it is committed to supporting the market through this transition and provide practical guidance for conveyancers at all stages of their QES journey.
Although adoption is slow, Novus Strategy’s Van der Sant said there are valid reasons for the lack of uptake.
She explained: “For one, there’s still a dearth of integrated digital ID solutions, which is what conveyancers need if they’re to use QES. The important thing right now is not to get too tied up in the numbers.
“Yes, they’re still low, and yes, they’re rising slowly but this is how it starts. If we look at the uptake of Open Banking to draw parallels on the pace of adoption, the first three years yielded around 6% uptake, versus around 20% seven years from launch.
“What you’re witnessing here is the birth of a new way of executing the most complex consumer transaction on Earth, and QES is just one small part of that.”
Conveyancers who would like to begin the onboarding process are encouraged to contact HMLR at QES@landregistry.gov.uk
