Rob Gurney, managing director Ochresoft, Landmark Information Group, shares the results of Landmark’s independent market research into the future of residential conveyancing and examines the use of technology in an industry at a crossroads.
The conveyancing sector is on the cusp of real, tangible transformation. As firms embrace digitalisation – from AI‑assisted workflows to the adoption of upfront information – the pace of progress varies across the sector.
Landmark’s latest independent market research, comprising interviews with 100 residential property solicitors and conveyancers from across England, Wales and Scotland, illustrates the challenges and opportunities for cultural transformation that will deliver faster, more certain transactions.
Early instruction: perception vs. reality
The majority of conveyancers we interviewed (98%) see barriers to early instruction before offer acceptance, and notably the top three blockers were all perceived client‑side factors: their reluctance to commit or pay pre‑offer, incomplete ID checks, and a lack of awareness of the benefits. Further perceived hurdles include capacity or process constraints and the risk of wasted effort if a sale collapses.
However, the research shows that these barriers aren’t insurmountable and suggests that consumers are more open to early instruction than anticipated. In a poll of 500 people who bought or sold a property within the last 18 months, 89% told us they would be willing to instruct a conveyancer before listing if it resulted in a faster sale
This presents a clear opportunity for conveyancers and law firms who are open to cultural change and want to see faster transaction times: for seller-side conveyancers to prepare more complete contract packs earlier in the process to mitigate unnecessary enquiries and make early instruction more practical and commercially viable.
Risk aversion vs rising client expectation
Nearly three quarters of conveyancers surveyed (73%) cite concerns around risk as a major barrier to adopting new technology even where proven efficiency gains are available. This hesitancy is allied by worries about compliance, data security, and the unpredictability of new systems, which together maintain an undercurrent of caution within the sector.
Conveyancers can also be reluctant, not because they doubt the value of change, but because benefits appear diluted if not all sides are modernised. The belief that a process is only as efficient as its slowest participant leads to an inertia and lack of action.
In an environment where delays themselves create risk, this inaction can be costly, but our research suggests that people on all sides would pay for better results. Most conveyancers we asked (91%) believe clients would pay a higher fee for faster, more transparent transactions (33% said ‘yes’ and 58% said some would, depending on the circumstances). Furthermore, our research reveals that 71% of consumers would pay their conveyancer a fee upfront if it meant faster progress and better data sharing, suggesting pricing confidence is paramount.
By opting for secure, standardised approaches to preparing and sharing contract information, it’s possible to address these concerns by validating documentation upfront, enabling firms to adopt digital processes while maintaining confidence and control.
From automation anxiety to operational reality
A significant 68% of conveyancers we surveyed acknowledge resistance to the mindset change required to embed AI and digital workflows successfully. This could stem not only from uncertainty about new technology but also from entrenched habits. Overcoming these cultural hurdles is essential for firms aiming to realise the full benefits of digital transformation.
Over a third (35%) of conveyancers expect digital transformation to impact operations in the next 12 months, with 34% citing AI automation as one of their top three productivity drivers. This signals a growing movement towards streamlining processes, eliminating routine manual tasks, and freeing up valuable time for higher-value work, client service and strategic growth.
Conveyancers tell us the biggest benefits of automation and digitisation have been improved customer experience (86%), better risk management (83%), and greater data insights earlier in the process (82%), which has sped up transactions. Therefore, digital adoption isn’t just about efficiency; it is also about delivering a better, safer, and more transparent client experience.
Legacy systems create friction but better data, earlier, reduces it
Technical difficulties migrating from legacy platforms remain a major source of friction across the sector, with 71% of conveyancers surveyed citing challenges in making digital data accessible to all parties. Poor system interoperability between platforms; security, privacy or compliance concerns; and data quality or completeness issues (all cited by 37%, when selecting all applicable challenges) continue to slow progress and complicate integration with newer technologies.
These obstacles do more than hinder digital transformation – they actively shape how and when information is shared. Outdated systems can mean critical data is shared too late in a transaction, triggering avoidable enquiries, delays and additional costs. Yet, conveyancers tell us that earlier access to data insights on a property and its location helps remove surprises, giving buyers greater certainty (73%), speeding up transactions (69%), and reducing or prompting earlier enquiries (61%).
In chain-based processes, improvements on one side can materially reduce friction on the other. Comprehensive, upfront contract packs help both parties move faster, regardless of individual technology choices.
These insights underline a simple truth – that faster, more predictable conveyancing is less about accelerating activity towards the end of a transaction, but more about improving the quality and timing of information at the start. By adopting a secure platform, conveyancers can slim down processes, ensure packs are complete from the start, and reduce time, risk and cost.
Turning challenges into catalysts for change
The conveyancing sector is at a crossroads. Risk aversion, legacy systems, and cultural resistance remain formidable barriers, yet they also illuminate where transformation must – and can – begin. These challenges are not just obstacles; they are opportunities to reimagine processes, embrace innovation, build resilience, and meet consumer expectations.
This is precisely where the Project 28 Charter comes into play. By committing to its principles – early instruction, upfront information, and collaborative digital workflows – the industry can move beyond incremental change towards systemic reform. In conveyancing, cultural transformation cannot, and does not need to, rely on everyone changing at once.
Reducing transaction times to 28 days from sale agreed to exchange isn’t simply a target; it is a rallying point for restoring confidence, improving client experience, and unlocking efficiency gains that benefit everyone.
Paving the way for smarter residential conveyancing in 2026
About the author
Rob Gurney is responsible for delivering Ochresoft’s business strategy. A qualified property lawyer, Rob previously served as the head of legal at Premier Property Lawyers. His track record involves streamlining legal processes and utilising data to provide high-quality, compliant and consistent services to all parties in property transactions.
