The Law Society has launched a survey of members seeking views on the government’s home buying and selling consultations, with the opportunity to take part in focus groups to help inform the Society’s responses.
The Law Society website is hosting the survey, and is encouraging responses from members and the wider legal sector. The survey seeks feedback on the digitisation of the home buying and selling process, material information requirements, and data accuracy compliance.
Respondents have until midnight on Friday 21 November to share their views.
In October, the government launched what it described as ‘the biggest shake-up to the home buying system in this country’s history’, calling the current process ‘chaotic’ and ‘a barrier to home ownership’. Two separate consultations, one to gather opinions on proposals to improve the home buying and selling process and a second inviting views on material information, have been launched. The Law Society is gathering views on how it might respond to the two consultations.
The home buying and selling reform consultation focuses on reducing the number of failed transactions. Proposals include requiring more up front information to be made available to buyers; encouraging the appointment of a conveyancer at the point of listing and/or entering into a binding contract earlier in the process; expanding the use of digital tools including the sharing of ID verification throughout the transaction to avoid duplication, and collating property data in digital logbooks; and introducing mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting and managing agents
The second consultation on material information seeks views on what might be included in a list of mandatory up front information; with title information, leasehold costs, property condition, chain status all included in the discussion. Information from searches and surveys could be published before a property listing is shared, so buyers can see the physical condition, characteristics and flood risk of the property online.
In sharing its own views, the Law Society said it welcomes a commitment to improving home buying and selling. “We know that many feel the conveyancing process is slow and complicated,” said the president, Mark Evans. He added:
“It can also be confusing as to who should be doing what, and there is the risk of duplication of effort. Information is often not available as quickly or as easily as it should be. Making the right reforms would help address all of these issues.”
The Law Society said it considers greater transparency in property chains, regulation of estate agents, early instruction of solicitors and conveyancers, and joined-up technology that is accessible to firms of all sizes to be positive changes.
In recent weeks, other membership and pressure groups have launched their own working groups to coalesce views on how to respond to the consultations.
A newly formed Conveyancing Task Force, led by Stephen Larcombe, has called on the government to prioritise cybersecurity as a matter of national infrastructure, reconsider aspects of the open data agenda that expose the system and property lawyers to unnecessary risk, and ensure that the costs of resilience are shared proportionately, rather than by property lawyers alone.
Meanwhile, a survey of Bold Legal Group members has identified widespread concern about the sustainability of the conveyancing profession, with 93% of respondents reporting the role has become more challenging or is in decline. The majority of those surveyed (82.5%) believe regulatory and compliance demands are the biggest issue affecting daily working life, with client expectations and communication pressures (70.9%) and staff capacity (51.5%) adding further strain.
Four in five respondents said they believe the profession is in a worse state than it was five years ago, citing increasing administrative burden, resource strain and inconsistent standards. An advisory working group has been established to coordinate industry discussions relating to the issues conveyancers have reported, with a private online forum set to launch on 17th November.
Earlier this week HMLR outlined its vision for 2025 and beyond in a strategy it says will deliver better services and create a faster, less stressful property market, centred around the use of data and a push towards digital transformation as it plays its part in efforts to improve the home buying and selling process .
One Response
The legal profession stands at a crossroads. Government plans to reform home buying risk hollowing out conveyancing and property law. These proposals threaten professional integrity, expose lawyers to unfair risks, and accelerate the decline of a profession already under strain.
Recent weeks have seen surveys revealing deep concern among practitioners. The new Conveyancing Task Force rightly warns cybersecurity is national infrastructure, not a burden for lawyers alone.
Yet reports are emerging on LinkedIn of splits within the Law Society following its defeat at the AGM. This risks distraction. Internal turmoil and calls for ballots show a profession losing focus. This is no time for division.
The legal profession must unite—ignoring shallow politicians and the law tech lobby. Reform must be grounded in the rule of law, not commoditisation or false tech promises. Lawyers are guardians of fairness, accountability, and public trust.
If government is serious, it must heed these warnings:
Cybersecurity is national resilience, not a cost dumped on lawyers.
Open data must not expose clients, lawyers, or the system to risk.
The profession’s sustainability is inseparable from consumer protection.
The Law Society must at least be seen to lead, with clarity and courage, defending integrity over political fashions or tech lobby demands.
Unity is survival. The legal profession must focus on its well-being, uphold the rule of law, and resist cheap theatrics. Only then can it withstand the existential threats bearing down on it.