Home Buying Hurdles: Who Sets Them Up?

Wending your way through the home-buying process in England can feel like getting through a maze without a map. Since the Norman Conquest of 1066, property law has grown all the more complicated. With each legislative manoeuvre seemingly adding more layers to an already perplexing process.

Recent changes in legislation, such as the Building Safety Act of 2022, have brought in more stringent safety standards that, while improving safety, also pile on compliance requirements. Not fully thought through, they complicate transactions. This adds to a broader trend where government interventions, despite aiming to improve aspects of the housing market, often introduce new hurdles instead of removing them.

At the same time, the support structures traditionally guiding legal professionals through these mazes are shifting. The Law Society, once a steadfast advocate and supporter of conveyancers, has increasingly delegated its responsibilities to entities like National Standards, which may lack the depth of influence or capability to support lawyers effectively.

On top of that, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is caught in a power struggle, which only adds to the turbulence in the conveyancing scene. This raises questions about whether it is helping to streamline the process.

Many argued [and still do] that introducing factory-style conveyancing would streamline and expedite the process. Instead, it has all too often resulted in bottlenecks, similar to the stacking issues seen in lorry parks in Kent due to disrupted channel crossings. This volume-driven approach emphasises speed over the quality of service, which can lead to both delays and frustrations among buyers and sellers.

Further, the entry of data-handling software investors into conveyancing has introduced a technological twist. Sadly, this brings with it a profit-driven approach that can sometimes overshadow the goal of improving the whole conveyancing process.

Local councils, feeling the pinch of budget cuts, struggle to retain experienced staff who are crucial for managing these processes smoothly. We are not in a position to have the advancing technology overcome many hurdles that councils face. The redirection of fees from councils to the Land Registry further depletes the resources necessary for effective service delivery, adding another layer of complexity.

On Thursday 4th, yes, that very day, our upcoming LinkedIn podcast, Property Quorum – Home Buying Hurdles: Tips for a Smooth Property Purchase, will look into some of these issues. Scheduled for 10am and available for later viewing, the discussion will feature experts Chris Gilsenan of Root Home , Juliet Baboolal LLB (hons), LLM construction from gunnercooke , chaired by Gareth Wax of Many Purple Hats Ltd , with special guests Sarah Drakard from Cruze Financial Solutions alongside Linda Ugo , a self-employed legal advisor.

This panel will spotlight hurdles and explore practical strategies to overcome these barriers, making the property journey smoother for those involved, particularly the clients. We'll ask questions about whether the modern legal and regulatory frameworks are building more hurdles than they remove and discuss who really benefits from the existing systems.

This conversation is especially useful at a time when prospective home buyers and sellers might feel overwhelmed by the requirements and seemingly miles of red tape that have become part of the process. Understanding some of these chores and how they impact everyone involved can be such a help in demystifying property transactions and making them more accessible and equitable.

As we consider the ever-changing property law and the current challenges within conveyancing, it becomes clear that while technological and legislative tools aim to simplify the process, the over abundance of changing regulations and market dynamics often results in more hurdles going up than coming down.

Get along, ask your questions and pick up some insights. If you cannot join us live, join us when it suits you and watch the recording.