Will AI speed up the conveyancing process?

A recent report suggests that the use of artificial intelligence by lawyers to help with conveyancing transactions has increased significantly in the past year. But will it help speed up the conveyancing process, or will over reliance on artificial intelligence create problems of its own?

What causes delays in conveyancing?

When you are buying or selling a property, the last thing you want is a delay to the process which holds up the purchase of your dream home, or derails it entirely. There are many reasons why conveyancing transactions can be delayed:

• local authorities can take some time to respond to searches about properties;
• there can be long sale and purchase chains, where there are multiple transactions happening simultaneously;
• issues with mortgages, including delays in receiving offers or the time taken to obtain valuations;
• checking and identifying any issues with planning permission or building regulations problems at the property;
• advising clients about how to deal with any structural problems with the property arising from surveys; and
• delays in communications between the various parties involved, including estate agents, clients and lawyers. 

Using artificial intelligence to assist with the standard tasks which need to be carried out in a conveyancing transaction might deliver some value to clients, but it cannot solve all of the reasons for delay.

Where artificial intelligence can help conveyancing delays

There is a common misconception that conveyancing is a straightforward and almost automated process. This is simply not the case. Each property, seller and buyer is unique and the process must be tailored by conveyancing professionals to meet the specific needs of their clients. 

Having said this, there are undoubtedly some parts of the whole transaction which can be assisted by the use of artificial intelligence, including:

• bringing clients onboard and carrying out checks on their identity;
• analysing lengthy documents and contracts; and 
• preparing initial draft reports. 

Using these methods can no doubt benefit clients and solicitors alike, but cannot replace the expertise of a conveyancing solicitor by automating the process entirely. In fact to do so, would be inherently dangerous.  

Find an expert conveyancing solicitor

At the moment, there is a no substitute for an experienced, responsive and knowledgeable conveyancing solicitor. There are many aspects of a conveyancing transaction where artificial intelligence simply cannot currently help and where a human touch is required, including:

• obtaining searches from local authorities;
• interpreting valuation and structural surveys, identifying and dealing with any issues;
• advising clients about progress, where most people would rather speak to a person than a chat bot; and
• waiting for the Land Registry to deal with the registration of properties after a transaction has completed. 

If you need a conveyancing expert who will speak to you when you need to, and will guide you through every aspect of the process, we can help. Our expert lawyers have many years of experience dealing with residential sales and purchases.

If you are a first time buyer looking for a solicitor, if you want to compare quotes for conveyancing services, or if you want to find expert conveyancing solicitors near you in Devon with consistently excellent reviews, we can help. 

Contact us today to find out more about our services.