A coalition of conveyancing professionals has warned that mounting pressure within the property transaction system is contributing to rising delays, failed sales and poor communication across England and Wales, with parts of the modern conveyancing sector itself coming under scrutiny.
The intervention from the Conveyancing Task Force comes after Parliament’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee called for reforms aimed at speeding up transactions through measures such as greater upfront information and earlier commitments from buyers and sellers.
However, the CTF argues that current reform discussions risk placing too much emphasis on administration and digitisation, while overlooking deeper structural pressures affecting the conveyancing process.
The group said transaction delays are frequently linked to lender hold-ups, mortgage issues, survey renegotiations, leasehold complications, fragile chains and increasing legal complexity. It also raised concerns about operational practices within some high-volume conveyancing firms, where large caseloads and limited supervision can affect continuity, accountability and client communication.
The group is calling for greater attention to professional standards, supervision and accountability across the sector, arguing that reforms focused solely on speed and technology will not resolve deeper operational weaknesses.
It also highlighted concerns around referral-driven business models, warning that commercial arrangements can sometimes influence consumer choice and undermine independence within the transaction process.
The CTF said policymakers must ensure that reform proposals are informed by those working directly within the system, alongside the experiences of consumers navigating transactions. It warned against allowing larger institutional or commercial interests to dominate discussions around future housing market reform.
As part of its intervention, the group has submitted a formal briefing to Florence Eshalomi, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, urging that any future reforms remain focused on consumer protection, professional accountability and practical delivery rather than assuming digitalisation alone will solve longstanding structural problems.
