New research shows that while a majority of estate agency compliance teams are exploring artificial intelligence, very few have fully adopted the technology. The findings highlight a significant gap between interest and implementation in the property sector.
Exploring AI but slow to adopt
A survey by client due diligence provider Thirdfort found that 68% of senior compliance professionals are exploring AI, with their firms researching or trialling its use in client due diligence (CDD). However, just 6% said their firms had fully embedded AI across their workflows.
The research, published in Thirdfort's Agents of Change report, also revealed mounting pressure on compliance teams. Some 85% of senior compliance leaders said their workloads had increased over the past year.
Concerns holding firms back
Despite growing interest in AI, concerns over data protection, transparency and regulation continue to hold firms back. Data security and GDPR compliance topped the list of concerns, with 41% citing these issues as barriers.
Almost a third (32%) raised concerns about AI transparency and auditability. Regulatory uncertainty troubled 30%, while 29% highlighted skills and knowledge gaps.
How estate agents are using AI
The research suggests firms mainly use AI for administrative tasks rather than managing entire compliance processes. Drafting policies and other documentation topped the list of applications, with 36% of respondents reporting its use.
Other applications included summarising regulations or documents (35%) and verifying identities or documents (31%). A further 31% used AI for risk assessments, while 30% used it to create training materials. Just 2% of respondents said their firms did not use AI at all.
Olly Thornton-Berry, co-founder and CEO of Thirdfort, said: "Despite growing pressure on law firm and estate agent compliance teams, our research shows that AI adoption is still at an early phase. However, using AI effectively can reduce the burden of routine client due diligence tasks, allowing compliance professionals to focus their time and expertise on the more complex cases."
The findings highlight a growing challenge for estate agents. Firms want to reduce the administrative burden of anti-money laundering checks and other compliance obligations. However, concerns over data security, accountability and regulatory requirements continue to slow wider adoption.
