Conveyancing is viewed as a bigger barrier to a smooth property transaction than chains, according to research among recent homebuyers.

A survey of 1,000 recent buyers commissioned by Lyons Bowe found that 42% regarded the conveyancing process as the main factor slowing or disrupting a transaction, compared with 19% who identified property chains.

Communication between legal representatives emerged as a particular concern. Some 23% of respondents said slow communication between buyers’ and sellers’ conveyancers was the leading reason for delays during the legal stages of a transaction.

Conveyancers were also seen as having significant influence over the progress of a sale or purchase, with 49% of those surveyed saying they had the greatest impact on whether a transaction proceeded smoothly.

However, a third of respondents said responsibility did not rest with one participant alone, arguing that a successful transaction depended on all parties working together effectively.

FASTER RESPONSES SOUGHT

Asked what would have made their most recent transaction quicker or more efficient, 24% said faster responses from and between conveyancers would have made the greatest difference.

A further 20% wanted better communication between everyone involved in the transaction, while 17% said greater availability of legal and property information at the outset would have improved the process.

Visibility was another issue. Some 42% of buyers said their understanding of what was happening was at its lowest during the conveyancing stage, while 23% said the single change they would make to the homebuying process would be to reduce the length and complexity of conveyancing.

Paul Lyons, managing director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, said: “Buying a home is a significant financial and emotional commitment, so it is understandable that people want greater certainty about what is happening with their transaction and when they can expect it to progress.

“Conveyancing will always involve legal complexity and depend on information coming from a number of different parties, and while this means things can take longer than buyers and sellers might hope for, it does not mean the process needs to feel opaque or unnecessarily difficult for the client.

“The survey findings show why that matters. Buying a home is stressful, especially when you’re working to a deadline.

“So an easy, smooth transaction is not simply about completing the legal work quickly, it is about making sure everyone involved has the information they need and that the client is kept informed throughout.”