Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by PropertyWire. Read the original article for full details.
Digital Signature Uptake Remains Low in UK Conveyancing Sector
Adoption of Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) in UK property transactions has stalled, with only five registrable dispositions completed using QES in the first quarter of 2026. Industry experts have raised concerns that current Land Registry guidance is hindering wider adoption across the conveyancing sector.
A coalition of e-signing platforms, qualified trust service providers, and legal and technology experts has issued an open letter highlighting what they describe as fundamental flaws in the QES system. The system was introduced to conveyancers at the end of 2025 to speed up property transfers by enabling digital signatures.
The letter points to the requirement that all parties in a transaction must use QES, with no option to combine different signature methods. The current rules do not allow mixing QES with conveyancer-certified electronic signatures (CCES), mercury signatures, or traditional wet ink signatures. Signatories to the letter include HomeOwner’s Passport, Thirdfort, and various legal and technology specialists.
Richard Oliphant of RO Legal Consulting, one of the letter’s authors, stated that the Land Registry’s QES guidance has resulted in only five registrable dispositions made with QES in the first quarter of 2026. The limited uptake comes at a time when buyers are increasingly delaying purchase decisions, making efficiency improvements in the conveyancing process more important for the sector.
A Land Registry spokesperson acknowledged the current limitations but defended the strategic direction, stating that QES usage is expected to increase as adoption grows. The Land Registry projected that usage would rise from single figures in the first six months to more than 300 transactions by the end of August 2026. The spokesperson also noted barriers to full adoption, including a lack of market providers and older working practices, and indicated openness to exploring interim options to enable faster adoption.
The slow adoption of digital signatures is seen as a setback for efforts to modernise property transactions in England and Wales, with potential implications for transaction speeds and costs across the sector.
Source: PropertyWire