The property industry faces a significant challenge in speeding up transactions, with seven in ten conveyancers still relying on email to share key documents before completion. The latest research from InfoTrack reveals that 70% of conveyancing respondents continue to exchange pre-completion documents by email, while 65% manage deadlines manually or through spreadsheets.
The findings come as the government prepares reforms designed to speed up property transactions, improve transparency and reduce uncertainty for buyers and sellers. LawtechUK, the Ministry of Justice-backed initiative, warns that conveyancers must accelerate their preparations if the reforms are to deliver meaningful improvements.
Government Proposals and Digital Progress
The government’s proposals include upfront property information packs, digital property records and contracts intended to secure buyer and seller commitments earlier in the transaction. However, InfoTrack’s 2026 Digital Conveyancing Maturity Index suggests that widespread adoption of digital technology has yet to translate into a fully connected home-buying process.
The research found that 89% of respondents now use digital identity verification, up from 76% in 2024. Use of digital source-of-funds checks has also increased, from 57% to 74%. Meanwhile, 88% use a case management system.
Despite this progress, half of respondents still handle enquiries through post or email. Just 15% use a shared digital workspace to manage enquiries between parties to a transaction. The figures expose a disconnect between investment in technology and how conveyancing firms manage transactions.
Industry Calls for Faster Preparation
Chris Grant, LawtechUK panel member and managing director, Client Value at Goodwin, said: “Conveyancers need to accelerate their preparations for the Government’s home-buying reforms. Those reforms depend on trusted information being available earlier and moving reliably between the parties to a transaction. Despite digital identity checks being widespread, much of the work that follows still relies on separate systems and manual tracking.
“Firms should now be reviewing how they exchange information with others involved in a sale and where their processes need to change. The Government needs to give firms clear requirements and time to prepare. Software providers need to make information easier to exchange, while lenders and professional bodies need to establish when that information can be relied upon. Firms also need practical help to choose suitable tools, train staff and change their processes.”
Buyers Left Chasing Updates
The consequences of fragmented systems extend beyond conveyancing firms. Separate YouGov research commissioned by LawtechUK found that 25% of homebuyers regularly had to chase their solicitor or conveyancer for progress updates. A further 21% said they did not understand what was causing delays. One in five buyers said they would look for a conveyancer offering real-time updates if they moved again.
For estate agents, the findings underline a familiar frustration: limited visibility over transaction progress and uncertainty about what is holding up a sale.
Sam Jordan, chief operating officer at InfoTrack UK, said: “The findings show how much conveyancing firms have achieved in digital onboarding. But having technology in place does not mean it is consistently used throughout a transaction. With 88% of respondents using a case management system and 65% managing deadlines manually or in spreadsheets, firms should examine how well their systems support the way their teams actually work.”
He added: “The strongest firms are not approaching technology as a series of isolated purchases or experiments. They are connecting tools to their existing systems, introducing consistent processes across teams and monitoring whether those processes are being followed.”
Technology Alone Will Not Fix the Problem
Research led by Lancaster University’s Technology Innovation and Productivity in Professional Services (TiPS) project suggests that firms face several obstacles when adopting new technology. These include identifying the problems that need solving, choosing appropriate software and ensuring staff can use new systems effectively.
James Faulconbridge, director of the TiPS project, said: “What we’ve learnt is that successful adoption rarely starts with jumping straight to the latest technology. Firms need to be clear about the problem they are trying to solve and build their capabilities from there. The firms making the most progress are those that make technology part of everyday working practices, rather than treating it as a standalone innovation project.”
The project has developed a framework and toolkit to help firms assess their technology needs, while LawtechUK offers support through its SME Legal Tech Matchmaker. For agents, the central question is whether greater digital adoption will finally improve communication between conveyancers, buyers, sellers and other parties involved in a sale. With the government pushing ahead with home-buying reform, the findings suggest that changing working practices could prove just as important as introducing new technology.
