Why conveyancing in the UK is harder than years gone by?

Conveyancing in the UK has become more complex and time-consuming than it was in previous years due to a number of factors, including:

1. Increased regulation: The conveyancing process in the UK is heavily regulated, and there have been many changes to the rules and regulations over the past few years. This has made the process more complex, and it is now more important than ever to ensure that all legal requirements are met.
2. Complexity of the property market: The UK property market is more complex than it was in the past, with many different types of property and ownership structures. This has made the conveyancing process more complicated, and it is now essential to have a deep understanding of the market to navigate it effectively.
3. Growth of technology: The use of technology has increased dramatically in recent years, and it is now an integral part of the conveyancing process. This has brought benefits, but it has also increased the complexity of the process, as there are now more systems and software to deal with.
4. Changes in the mortgage market: The mortgage market has changed dramatically over the past few years, and it is now more complex than ever before. This has made it more difficult for conveyancers to navigate, as they must understand a wider range of products and criteria.
5. Increased demand: The demand for conveyancing services has increased in recent years, and this has put pressure on the industry to deal with a growing volume of work. This has made the process more time-consuming, as conveyancers must now deal with more transactions than ever before.

The combination of increased regulation, the complexity of the property market, the growth of technology, changes in the mortgage market, and increased demand has made conveyancing in the UK more challenging than it was in previous years.

Conveyancing can take a long time due to a number of factors, including:

1. Due diligence: Conveyancers must carry out extensive checks to ensure that the property is legally sound and that there are no outstanding issues or problems. This can include reviewing title deeds, checking for planning permission, and investigating any potential issues with the property.
2. Complexity of the process: The conveyancing process involves many different stages, and each one must be completed correctly to ensure that the transaction can proceed smoothly. This can include negotiations between the buyer and seller, drawing up contracts, and carrying out searches and surveys.
3. Processing times: There are often delays at various stages of the process, such as waiting for local authorities to complete searches, or for mortgage lenders to process applications. These delays can add time to the overall conveyancing process.
4. Volume of work: Conveyancers are often dealing with a high volume of work, and this can lead to delays in processing individual transactions. This can be exacerbated in a busy market, where there are many transactions taking place at the same time.
5. Unforeseen issues: Sometimes, unexpected issues can arise during the conveyancing process, such as disputes between the buyer and seller or problems with the property that were not immediately apparent. These issues can take time to resolve, and they can add to the overall time taken to complete the conveyancing process.

Overall, the conveyancing process can take a long time due to the need for due diligence, the complexity of the process, processing times, volume of work, and unforeseen issues. Conveyancers must be patient and diligent to ensure that the process proceeds smoothly and that all parties involved are satisfied with the outcome

Remember to stay in touch with your conveyancer solicitor throughout the process but be mindful about the difference between being a partner in the transaction vs a pain in the backside, this doesn't help anyone move things any quicker.