Conveyancing is the biggest obstacle to a smooth property transaction, according to a new survey, with 42% of respondents naming it as the main barrier. Property chains were cited by just 19%.
The research, commissioned by Lyons Bowe, puts communication between conveyancers in the spotlight. Almost a quarter (23%) blamed slow communication between buyers' and sellers' conveyancers for delays during the legal process.
Buyers expect conveyancers to lead
For estate agents dealing with lengthy sales progression, the findings highlight who buyers think should keep transactions moving. Nearly half (49%) said conveyancers have the greatest influence over whether a transaction progresses smoothly.
However, a third (33%) said no single party carries that responsibility, believing instead that everyone involved needs to work together effectively.
Demand for faster responses
When asked what could have improved their most recent transaction, 24% chose faster responses from and between conveyancers. A further 20% wanted better communication between all parties, while 17% said earlier access to legal and property information would have helped.
The survey also flagged visibility concerns. Some 42% said they had the least visibility during the conveyancing stage, making it harder to understand what was happening with their purchase. Almost a quarter (23%) said they would shorten and simplify the conveyancing process to improve the homebuying experience.
Paul Lyons, managing director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, said: “Buying a home is a significant financial and emotional commitment, so it is understandable that people want greater certainty about what is happening with their transaction and when they can expect it to progress.
“Conveyancing will always involve legal complexity and depend on information coming from a number of different parties, and while this means things can take longer than buyers and sellers might hope for, it does not mean the process needs to feel opaque or unnecessarily difficult for the client.”
He added: “Buying a home is stressful, especially when you’re working to a deadline. So an easy, smooth transaction is not simply about completing the legal work quickly, it is about making sure everyone involved has the information they need and that the client is kept informed throughout.”
FindOutNow conducted the research for ProperPR on behalf of Lyons Bowe. The survey covered 1,046 UK homeowners who had bought a property during the previous two years.
