Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Lender Survey Highlights Delays and Solutions in UK Property Transactions

A recent survey by The Conveyancing Association (CA) has found that post-offer queries are a significant source of delays in UK property transactions. The survey, which gathered feedback from conveyancers, also identified opportunities for operational improvements and clearer guidance to help speed up the process.

The CA’s annual Lender Collaboration Survey is designed to provide lenders with honest feedback from conveyancers about the home buying and selling process. According to the survey, more than half of respondents said post-offer queries typically delay transactions by a week or more, while a further third reported that these queries regularly add several days to the process. This means almost nine in ten firms are experiencing delays that can affect completion times and client expectations.

The survey found that two-thirds of respondents identified interpretation of the UK Finance or Building Societies Association (BSA) Handbook as the most common reason for raising post-offer queries. Areas of uncertainty highlighted by members included rent charges, mortgage protection clauses, and gifted deposits. The CA suggests that clearer and more consistent guidance on these issues could reduce unnecessary referrals and give conveyancers greater confidence to proceed.

Practical improvements were also suggested by survey respondents. These include faster responses to post-offer enquiries, greater use of email and secure digital communication, wider adoption of common portals, and the retirement of fax as a communication method. Members also noted the value of all lenders adopting a common referral platform, such as Lender Exchange or LMS, to create greater consistency and reduce duplication.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, these findings highlight the importance of efficient communication and clear guidance in the property transaction process. Delays caused by post-offer queries can impact all parties in the property chain, including agents and their clients.