A new industry survey uncovered that over half of mortgage professionals rank persistent follow-ups with solicitors for transaction statuses as their leading annoyance in the conveyancing workflow. The research, performed by One Mortgage System (OMS) and Smoove, determined that 56% of brokers view this pursuit as their foremost obstacle during property deals.
Additionally, 16% of respondents reported receiving delayed updates from legal representatives, while 14% noted confusion among clients regarding their transactional standing. An identical share of brokers identified bottlenecks in document retrieval or query responses as significant issues.
The study further exposed divergent practices when brokers suggest conveyancers to clients. While 25% provide recommendations during nearly every mortgage application, 38% seldom or never offer such guidance.
When advising clients on conveyancers, 40% of brokers prioritize pre-established professional connections or panel affiliations. 24% allow clients to make their own selections, and 12% rely on suggestions from industry contacts or lenders.
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Jodie Andrews, Head of Marketing, Sales and Partnerships at One Mortgage System, emphasized that the results reveal varying approaches to conveyancer referrals alongside persistent frustrations during the legal phase of property transactions. She suggested that embedding conveyancing tools within existing customer management platforms could minimize redundant tasks and ease administrative burdens for clients.
David Burt, UK Sales Manager at Smoove, observed that the survey shows the substantial time brokers dedicate to tracking transaction progress. He stressed that reliable, prompt communication is critical to alleviating frustration and enhancing the conveyancing experience.
The survey’s findings align with wider industry worries about transparency in property transactions. The data implies potential inefficiencies throughout the transaction process that could extend completion timelines and diminish client satisfaction. These issues impact various participants, including brokers, solicitors, purchasers, and investors operating within the UK property sector.
Given that one-quarter of brokers consistently recommend conveyancers, the results highlight an opportunity to standardize referral practices across the field. The survey confirms that addressing ongoing conveyancing challenges remains essential to improving outcomes for all involved parties. Both Andrews and Burt agree that enhancing communication and optimizing workflows are fundamental to resolving these issues.