The number of solicitors working in residential conveyancing has continued to fall as separate market data shows transactions are taking longer to reach exchange.
Figures from the IRN UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report 2026 show that 10,724 solicitors were practising in residential conveyancing in England and Wales by January 2026, more than 2,000 fewer than at the end of 2021.
The report estimated that 5,904 UK law firms were active in the residential conveyancing market.
Separate data from TwentyCi for 2025 put the average time to exchange at about 123 days, although the length of a transaction can vary considerably by region and individual case.
The figures are highlighted in the annual State of the UK Conveyancing Market report from legal software provider Access Legal, part of The Access Group.
The research draws on 15 months of HM Land Registry data covering April 2025 to June 2026 and examines competitive pressures, client expectations and regulatory obligations across the sector.
It also incorporates HM Land Registry dealing application volumes, client satisfaction data from 1,388 verified reviews and an assessment of regulatory changes affecting firms during FY25/26 and beyond.
Access Legal said falling practitioner numbers, high workloads and longer transaction times were increasing the potential for bottlenecks and placing additional pressure on conveyancing teams.
Since April 2025, firms have also faced a series of regulatory and compliance changes, including developments in anti-money laundering requirements, new TA6 and TA7 property forms and revised money laundering regulations guidance.
The report argues that firms will increasingly need to process higher volumes per fee earner, with technology, process improvements and the use of AI expected to play a greater role in reducing administrative workloads.
Andrew Stevens, general manager at Access Legal, said: “Technology is the natural answer to growing capacity without growing headcount. Digitising traditional workflows empowers conveyancers to confidently navigate market changes and strengthen resilience without placing extra pressure on teams.
“Because law firms can’t simply ask conveyancers to work longer hours to solve the deficit challenge, technology has become the primary answer to both modernise and streamline services.
“While the likes of technology and AI cannot replace empathy or judgement, they can help in alleviating stress and ultimately contribute to preventing burnout, allowing solicitors that time back to build those relationships with clients and to continue carrying out their work.”
