The Intermediary – November 2025 - Flipbook - Page 57
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
being collected by estate agents is that right
now it hasn’t made a difference to transaction
times. We’re collecting information, but sharing is
limited, and sometimes competitors don’t want it.
We need clarity.”
Holden cautions that, while well-intentioned,
the new transparency initiatives could lead
to a downward spiral, adding: “With 39% of
conveyancers’ time spent chasing or being chased
for information, smarter and more efficient
flows are essential to prevent transparency from
becoming another administrative burden.”
Quinton sees a lack of transparency and
communication throughout the chain as one of
the main obstacles, saying: “Often, you don’t know
what’s happening two or three steps down the
line. Each part of the chain moves at its own pace,
and we need a way for everyone to see what’s
happening. Transparency is missing, even though
there are data privacy and GDPR challenges. In an
ideal world, everyone involved – conveyancers,
brokers, lenders – would have that visibility.”
The panel discusses the use of platforms such
as Coadjute or MoveMe by ViewMyChain to share
property data, task status and messaging between
estate agents, conveyancers, buyers and sellers –
removing duplication and creating clarity across
the property chain.
Dyoss notes: “Looking at panel management,
some of the analysis we do shows, on average,
there’s a two-week delay between instruction and
ordering searches. That’s two weeks lost at the
very start. In some firms, everything is approved
and done within 24 hours, which shows how
simple improvements can make a huge difference.”
He continues: “We also have to overcome
legacy systems. Upgrading them isn’t easy – just
look at what it’s like to update systems in banks.
Investment is the biggest barrier to adoption at
the moment. A change that looks simple on paper
can take six months in reality.”
Next steps: Reduce the gap between
instruction and searches, push for greater
uptake of QES, and engage with platforms
that create chain transparency.
A DA P T I NG FOR T H E F U T U R E
There is broad agreement that the sector should
not wait for top-down regulation; instead,
it must drive transformation – piloting new
approaches, sharing best practice, and working
closely with regulators to ensure that innovation
and compliance progress hand in hand. The
Land Registry, for example, is working with the
industry to build on local land charges, raise the
bar on information validation, and lift standards.
Gray says: “We want to be a galvanising force,
even in areas we don’t directly control. No single
organisation can make change happen in isolation
– enough of the sector needs to move together. It
won’t work if only lenders, conveyancers, or the
Government act alone. Everyone must take a step
forward, but not wait for everyone else.”
Connells Group recently brought its panel
partners together to create a protocol for when
working on both sides of a transaction. Coughlan
says: “The message: don’t raise unnecessary
enquiries. We’re seeing a reduction, but it’s not
enough. We don’t control the whole channel, we’re
only one part of the transaction.”
Slade notes: “With the current undersupply in
the market, you do have to be careful. Realistically,
it’s only the Government or the lenders who have
the power to mandate change. They could say to a
bunch of conveyancers, ‘Unless you’ve got this IT
spec or system, you’re not staying on the panel.’
That’s the kind of leverage required.”
At the heart of these discussions is a shared
recognition that the sector’s image problem does
not get solved by technical fixes alone.
The panel calls for a new approach to consumer
education and communication – one that
demystifies the conveyancing process.
By embracing transparency, empowering
consumers with clear information, and providing
proactive updates, conveyancers could rebuild
trust and change perceptions for the better.
Dyoss says: “Conveyancing underpins the entire
economy. Property transactions are massive, and
what we do moves the country forward. If we
could sell that bigger vision, it would be powerful
– the work is exciting and underpins so much
national activity.”
Hale has witnessed a dramatic shift in tone
already, saying: “Over the past three and a
half years the volume of positive external
conversations about the purpose behind home
moving in the UK and its role in the economy is
about 20 times the amount of noise there was in
2022 when I joined. We’re talking about it all the
time – about changing the industry for the better,
about people’s careers. We’re on the growth drive.
The loudness and frequency of the voices is a real
positive. Keep doing it. Do more of it. A rising tide
lifts all boats.”
Next steps: Actively promote positive
stories as efficiency and tech improve.
T H E WAY FORWA R D
Far from being tempted to throw their hands up at
the difficulty of creating change in a fragmented
and complex part of the homebuying process, the
panel proves that there are achievable steps that
can be taken today to create success tomorrow. ●
November 2025 | The Intermediary
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