Property lawyers are sounding the alarm over the Government's plans to rush through digital reforms in homebuying processes, warning that inadequate consultation risks exposing buyers and sellers to avoidable pitfalls. Their concerns follow the Government's response to its own consultation on reforming home buying and selling, which revealed ambitions to expand use of digital tools and integrate AI systems more widely.
The Conveyancing Task Force (CTF), representing property lawyers, has cautioned that these reforms could replicate mistakes made in previous legislative developments. For instance, the CTF points to the Building Safety Act 2022, where frontline legal expertise was reportedly overlooked despite significant implications for leasehold conveyancing. They also highlight recent anti-money laundering requirements as an example of policy changes implemented without sufficient consideration for their practical impact on conveyancing firms.
Stephen Larcombe, a spokesperson for the CTF, stressed that integrity in property law is not a luxury that can be paused or traded for speed: "Integrity in property law is non-negotiable. It cannot be delegated to an algorithm or traded for greed or expediency." He urged ministers and policymakers to ensure any reform is grounded in credible evidence, legal compliance, and professional expertise.
The CTF argues that while technology can support the homebuying process, it cannot replace critical legal judgment or established safeguards protecting transactions from structural risks. As the property sector faces pressure to shorten transaction times, lawyers insist that efficiency must not come at the expense of robust legal protections underpinning property ownership transfers.
The outcome of this consultation process will have far-reaching implications for the UK property market, affecting transaction timelines, costs, and operational practices nationwide – ultimately influencing every individual involved in a property transaction.