The conveyancing sector is facing a perfect storm of challenges as 2025 gets up to full speed. Regulatory burdens and economic uncertainty, to the rise of AI and automation, all whilst battling clients demands and expectations; it’s a complex industry landscape, perhaps more so than ever before.
However, amongst these challenges, a spirit of resilience and proactivity is emerging. Conveyancers are taking control of the controllables; embracing innovation and seeking solutions to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
This shift in mindset is evident in the recent market research from Landmark Information Group. Over half of responders (52%) are now taking matters into their own hands by assigning workloads more effectively, while 34% are digitising more processes. Proactively sourcing new business and investing in improved training are also high on responders 2025 priorities.
What Tech Can Do For You
Understanding and integrating new technology can be a daunting task for conveyancing firms, especially with the rapid pace of recent advancements.
“Everybody’s grappling with the fact that the technological capabilities [in conveyancing] are accelerating at such a pace,” admitted Rob Steadman, Sales Director within Landmark Information Group.
“If you deploy AI today, tomorrow there’s almost like the next better version of AI to change it.”
Liz Jarvis, Managing Director of OneSearch highlights the need for dedicated education and training: “There’s an assumption by a lot of people that there’s all this information out there about tech, prop tech, and AI technology, and how it can help your firm. But actually, I don’t think that that’s fully translated into how it can be adopted.
“I think conveyancers and others doing this role, they actually need a lot more information about what that can do [for them] specifically, rather than big noise of a release of this technology. What does it mean to me and to my firm? How long will it take me? How long and what cost will it take for this to embed in my business?
“There’s the worry, what if I invest this money now? Is it obsolete in 12 months’ time?”
The feels are reflected in the market research; 62% of respondents listed the knowledge gap within their team as an aspect which has challenged progress, as well as the slow pace of change towards a digital outlook (62%).
Collaboration and Communication: Bridging the Gaps
Another key theme for 2025 is the need for improved communication and collaboration among all stakeholders in the property transaction process. Participants highlighted the frustration caused by chasing information and the lack of transparency in the system.
Liz Jarvis continued along this point: “One of the biggest frustrations and things that is wasting time really is that chasing one another through all different parts of the process whether it would be a surveyor, an estate agent, the other side of the transaction, the purchaser or the vendor.
“I wonder why it’s taken a really long time. It feels like the thing we’ve never really been able to solve is this transparency or ability to see what other people are doing, putting information in a central place where everyone can access it together instead of it being phone calls and email.”
This desire for greater transparency and collaboration points to the need for solutions that can bring all stakeholders together in a central hub, providing a single source of truth and facilitating seamless information sharing.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Bold Leadership and Continued Innovation
The recent market research from Landmark paints a picture of a sector that is facing challenges head-on, embracing innovation, and actively seeking solutions to improve efficiency and client experience. Conveyancers are taking control, demanding more from technology providers, and prioritising collaboration and communication.
Moving forward, direction and continued innovation will be crucial. As Rob Steadman emphasised, “It’s going to come down to bold leadership across the sector to be clearly heard as to what their priorities are.”
By working together, conveyancers, technology providers, and other stakeholders can create a more efficient, transparent, and client-centric property transaction process. The challenges are real, but the opportunities are even greater.
The Landmark 2024 residential conveyancing survey tells a ‘tale of two halves’. One is about hope for economic stability as we enter autumn with listings and sales volumes rising, and interest rates falling. The other is about how conveyancers are still struggling with slow transaction times, insufficient resources, and general lack of transparency. For more details, be sure to download the market research results today.
Sustainability is not just a trend; it is a fundamental shift reshaping the property sector. As climate change concerns evolve and environmental regulations tighten, conveyancers, at the business end of property transactions, are pivotal in guiding clients through all the complexities.
But how, with increasing expectations from home buyers, can small law firms adopt sustainable practices to survive and thrive?
Following the release of Landmark’s reflections and predictions sustainability guide, OneSearch Managing Director, Liz Jarvis, sat down with Landmark’s Group Sustainability Director, Chris Loaring, to discuss sustainability in the property industry and how conveyancers can adapt practices to meet new challenges and expectations.
Sustainability is no longer optional
In 2024, Landmark research showed 93% of property professionals say their clients are concerned about the future threat of climate change. They are increasingly conscious of impacts, energy costs and future-proofing their investments and want to understand flood risks and energy efficiency and how environmental considerations directly affect their property’s value.
This will only increase as the new generation of first-time buyers – typically around 40% of the market – drive conversations, inspired by social media trends and environmentally conscious awareness, and ask for more education.
They will turn to their conveyancers to guide them through the environmental issues and complexities related to their home buying – “so conveyancers need to be ready to answer questions and address those concerns” explains Liz.
At OneSearch, we see businesses that support clients with confident sustainability advice “are creating a really great opportunity for themselves,” says Liz. By moving early, building a strong supply chain, network and partners, they “find mutual value very, very quickly,” agrees Chris.
Conveyancers’ key role
Conveyancers have a crucial role to play in helping clients navigate the environmental aspects of home buying. But it’s more than that for conveyancers, who, to meet new regulations and disclosure requirements, also need to understand how climate change might affect a property’s future value and usability, considering (and explaining to clients):
- its resilience to climate change, including flood risks and extreme weather events
- future costs of meeting energy efficiency standards
- sustainable features that might affect property value
- local planning policies, environmental protection, and development restrictions
Unfortunately, the complexities of climate change analysis and demands from clients make a hard job even harder for small conveyancing law firms. “It is understandable that fear and a lack of knowledge are holding back many conveyancing practices,” says Chris Loaring.
“We know conveyancers take on a risk when they accept the responsibility to advise clients on sustainability,” explains Liz. “So, as conveyancing partners, at OneSearch, we provide accurate, reliable information, minimising that risk. We endeavour to make it easy for people to interpret, digest, and understand the information we provide.”
Landmark: leading the way with practical tools and resources
Landmark, uniquely, is involved at all stages of a property transaction, so we use our knowledge to support conveyancers and help them succeed in this evolving landscape.
“We work with agents, upfront, before a property goes on the market,” explains Chris, “then with the lenders as they prepare a mortgage offer, and finally with the conveyancer as they work through the complexities of the property transaction. We see every link in that chain.”
And to support every link in that chain, Landmark has committed to supporting the property sector in its transition to a sustainable future, sharing valuable products and services to address the growing need for sustainability expertise.
“We made the call in 2020 to set sustainability and climate change reporting as a priority, making net zero important to us as a business and to take with us the industries we partner with on the journey,” explains Chris. “We were the first property-related data business to sign up to the pledge to net zero, for example.
“But we found none of our partners really knew where to start in our shared journey to net zero – and we wanted to help. So, we spent a lot of time and effort creating a really accessible, free-to-use starter guide: a six-page document with a tangible starting place.
“Other partners already had a commitment, a pathway, and maybe a progress plan, so we can review, advise, and show them where they can improve in their journey to net zero.”
Beyond face-to-face consultation and ongoing support, we have a suite of digital platforms and software solutions that help our partners track and manage environmental compliance, so they miss nothing during the transaction. These tools can automatically flag potential issues and suggest actions, keeping high-street firms ahead of the curve and thriving.
Building a sustainable firm
Embracing sustainability is more than just meeting legal obligations; you need to future-proof your conveyancing practice. The onus is on law firms to set and implement policy, establishing a process that works for your business.
Liz continued, “We find early adopters and forward-thinking firms that champion expertise in environmental aspects of property transactions can expand the type of work they do and increase their revenue.”
Taking advice from a trusted partner is a great first step; they can tailor an approach that fits your profile and process. This is so much more than box ticking with a single product – this is an opportunity to make business sustaining changes that will drive a prosperous future, financially as well as for the planet.
Incorporating sustainability considerations into your day-to-day business enhances firm reputation and client satisfaction. Younger buyers, in particular, appreciate conveyancers who can speak knowledgeably about sustainability issues and provide practical guidance on environmental considerations.
In 2025, there will be new guidance on how to manage climate change in conveyancing. The main part, part A, focuses on your firm’s own ESG and net zero promises, while a smaller part covers climate risks in property sales.
Nonetheless, it is the smaller part B that conveyancers are talking about, as it focuses on the specific risks of climate change on property transactions and conveyancers’ legal duties of warning and disclosing – and it brings with it a barrage of questions that small legal firms are struggling to contend with. Not least whether you, as a firm, should include climate checks in every sale, none, some, or let clients choose.
“It’s really important to provide full guidance for clients who want to consider climate change in property transactions – and it’s just as important to understand what you’re offering, what it means, and how you can integrate or embed it in your workflow,” says Chris.
Landmark’s Q4 2024 Residential Property Trends Report is now available.
This report features the latest data on residential property transactions, including listings, SSTC/SSTM figures, search orders and completions.
The data for Q4 ‘24 confirms that 2024 achieved a stable but depressed market that lagged behind pre-pandemic levels. However, the continued healthy listings supply illustrates the potential for the market to bounce back quickly should economic conditions improve.
The disparity between supply and demand continued in Q4 ‘24. Listings volumes were up 8% compared to Q4 2019 in England and Wales, while SSTC volumes were down 33%. Seller appetite remains, but affordability constraints are likely hampering progress through the pipeline.
Other key findings from Q4 ‘24 include:
- Listing volumes in England and Wales were up 8% in Q4 ‘24 vs Q4 ‘19. In Scotland, listing volumes were up 5% in Q4 ‘24 vs Q4 ‘19.
- In England and Wales, SSTC volumes in Q4 ‘24 were down 33% compared to Q4 ‘19 volumes. SSTM levels in Scotland were only down 5% in Q4 ‘24 vs Q4 ‘19.
- Completions were down 37% in England and Wales in Q4 ‘24 vs Q4 ‘19. In Scotland, completions were down just 13% in Q4 ‘24 vs Q4 ‘19.
Download your copy of the Cross Market Activity edition for England, Wales and Scotland, which includes the latest residential property market data and insights for Q4 2024.
Landmark’s next webinar: Explore property market trends and key themes for 2025
Date: Thursday 23rd January
Time: 11.30am
Duration: 45 minutes
Why Attend?
We’ll bring you the latest findings from Landmark’s property trends data, market research, interactive Q&As, and expert discussions to equip you with actionable strategies and tactics for achieving success in the sector.
The effects of climate change on legal practices are wide-ranging and constantly evolving – so we are too. Climate Change is now included as standard in EnviroSearch Residential and RiskView Residential
As climate change continues to reshape our environment, the property market cannot afford to overlook its long-term impact. For conveyancers and solicitors, the duty to provide advice on environmental risks has been well documented and is more crucial than ever. Our parent company Landmark’s latest enhancements make this easier by including a Climate Change module as standard in both EnviroSearch Residential and RiskView Residential. This powerful enhancement ensures that your environmental due diligence extends beyond today’s concerns and considers future risks for your clients.
Why choose Landmark’s Climate Change Report?
As leaders in legal products and environmental data for the UK property market, Landmark has a long-standing reputation for supporting best practice due diligence. Our innovative products enable thousands of successful transactions every day, and now, with the inclusion of climate change assessments, our reports are even more valuable.
Climate change is no longer a distant concern—it’s an issue that affects every industry and every part of our lives. Here are some key statistics to highlight the importance of measuring and addressing these risks during property transactions:
- Flooding: Currently, 5.4 million properties in the UK are at risk of flooding. By 2050, the number of people significantly at risk is projected to increase by 61%.
- Subsidence: By 2030, the British Geological Survey (BGS) expects climate change-related subsidence to affect more than 3% of properties, rising to over 10% by 2070.
- Heat Stress: According to the Met Office, summer temperatures could be 1–6°C warmer and 60% drier by 2070, with an increased likelihood of heatwaves.
These statistics demonstrate why it’s critical to include climate change risk assessments as part of your due diligence process. Understanding how these risks may evolve will help your clients make more informed decisions about their property investments.
Key features and benefits of Landmark’s Climate Change Report
Landmark’s Climate Change module offers comprehensive analysis of both physical and transitional risks. Here’s how it benefits you and your clients:
- Physical Risks: The report assesses four key areas where climate change could impact a property: flood risk, subsidence, heat stress, and coastal erosion. This enables you to advise your clients on the potential need for adaptations to manage future risks.
- Transition Risk: The report includes key Energy Performance Certificate information, which is crucial for understanding how energy efficiency requirements may evolve over time. Transition risks, such as energy efficiency upgrades, are increasingly relevant as properties must meet stricter environmental standards. Landmark’s report provides information on the current EPC and outlines future requirements, including potential costs.
- Report on Title Summary Page: Climate change is a complex area, and Landmark’s summary page simplifies the process. It presents a clear and concise overview of climate-related risks, making it easier for you to relay recommendations to your clients.
- Expert queries and support: The complexity of climate change can lead to questions from both solicitors and their clients. Landmark ensures that your queries are answered accurately and promptly by industry professionals, in partnership with specialist academics.
- Visual mapping and graphics: Landmark’s report includes mapping and graphics for flood risk, ground stability, and heat stress. These visual elements help to enhance the understanding of potential risks, providing clarity for you and your clients.
- Authoritative data source: The data baseline for Landmark’s climate change assessments is derived from UKCP18, the most authoritative climate projection data available for the UK, developed by the Met Office. This ensures that your reports are based on the most trustworthy and up-to-date information.
- Polygon search functionality: For finer granularity and precision in reporting, Landmark’s Climate Change module includes a polygon search functionality. This allows you to deliver highly detailed and accurate assessments for specific areas of concern.
- Short, Medium, and Long-Term risk analysis: Landmark’s Climate Change module presents physical and transitional risks over the short, medium, and long term. This ensures that you and your clients have a clear understanding of the evolving risk landscape and can make well-informed decisions. The intuitive format of the report offers appropriate explanations with practical advice and recommendations, so you’re not just presented with data, but actionable insights.
Why it matters for conveyancers and solicitors
With climate change becoming an increasingly significant factor in the property market, conveyancers and solicitors must consider not only current risks but also those that could emerge in the future. Landmark’s Climate Change module offers the foresight needed to provide comprehensive advice to your clients, ensuring their investments are protected against the uncertainties of a changing climate.
The inclusion of this module in EnviroSearch Residential and RiskView Residential reports as standard means that climate change risk assessments are now a seamless part of your due diligence process. With Landmark’s support, you can help your clients navigate the complexities of climate change, ensuring they are fully informed and prepared for the future.
Take the next step
Landmark’s Climate Change module is designed to help you stay ahead in a rapidly changing world. Download our new product comparison matrix and toolkit to see how this forward-looking analysis can enhance your practice. By incorporating climate change risk assessments, you’re not just safeguarding transactions for today – you’re ensuring that your clients’ investments are resilient for the future.
Don’t let climate change risks go unaddressed in your property transactions. Equip yourself with the best tools available. Download the toolkit now!
The original version of this article was originally published by Landmark Information Group. For more information from the full range of Environmental Insights remastered products available from OneSearch, click here.
Introducing the ‘coal revolution’: the new way of searching for coal risk
In a dynamic and evolving property market, there are still demands for precision and efficiency. That’s why our parent company Landmark is proud to introduce one of the most significant advancements in their new product line-up—our redefined approach to coal risk assessments.
Landmark have transformed the way coal mining-related risks are evaluated, providing conveyancers and solicitors with more accurate information and reducing unnecessary delays and search costs in the property transaction process
How does it work?
The ‘coal revolution’ in Landmark’s Homecheck Residential, EnviroSearch Residential, and RiskView Residential products provide a unique and streamlined approach to coal risk assessments. Here’s how it works across our product range:
- Homecheck Residential and EnviroSearch Residential:
- These reports now come with a Certification that, in cases of ‘No’ or ‘Low’ coal mining related risk, a Coal report is not required. Therefore, if a property is located within a coal mining-affected area, but no relevant record of mining activity is present, the report will confirm that there is no need to order a coal report and certify the accuracy of this statement. We can do this as the certification is based upon a unique dataset available only to us.
- This Certification, is supported by £1 million indemnity insurance, providing assurance and coverage against loss through inaccuracy. This is a market-first feature, ensuring your clients are protected while reducing the need for additional searches.
- This innovation significantly reduces the occurrence of false positives, which means fewer unnecessary alerts and a reduction in the number of occasions when a follow-on Coal report is required.
- If further action is needed based on our alert, you have the option to seamlessly order a Landmark Coal Residential or Landmark Coal CON29M report for more in-depth information.
- RiskView Residential:
- You also benefit from the same alert in RiskView Residential. However, this product takes it a step further. When a Coal report is required, it’s automatically included in the report, saving you the time, money and effort of ordering it separately.
- This integration provides a smoother and more efficient process, ensuring you receive all the necessary information in one comprehensive report.
Benefits of the ‘coal revolution’
The improvements in our coal risk assessments offer a range of benefits designed to streamline the conveyancing process and provide peace of mind for both conveyancers and their clients:
- Certified as No Search Required supported by Indemnity: Alongside and integral to the Coal Screening Data Layer is Landmark’s certification as to the result’s accuracy, where ‘No’ or ‘Low’ risk is identified. In the unlikely event that a claim should be made, Landmark’s certification is backed by a £1M indemnity policy.
- Refined Alerts: Our new approach ensures that further action flags are now the most refined in the industry. This precision helps avoid unnecessary delays and focuses on the risks that truly require attention.
- Symbiosis between Alerts and Full Reports: The seamless connection between our alert system and full coal mining reports is another unique selling point. Whether you need just the alert or the full CON29M, the transition is smooth, saving time, effort and unnecessary costs.
- Efficiency and Cost Savings: By reducing false positives and automatically including necessary coal reports where applicable, our new coal risk assessment system helps make conveyancing more efficient, ultimately saving both time and money. This also empowers fix rate conveyancing.
A new era for coal risk assessments
With Landmark’s coal revolution, you can expect faster, more accurate, and more comprehensive coal risk assessments. The symbiosis between alert systems and full reports, combined with the added security of our Certified No Search Required, flag’s accuracy being supported by £1 million indemnity, sets a new industry standard for coal mining risk assessments.
This all means fewer delays, fewer unnecessary searches, and a more streamlined conveyancing process for you and your clients.
Take the next steps
Ready to experience the Coal Revolution for yourself? Download the Product Comparison Matrix and Toolkit today to see how Landmark’s new residential product portfolio can transform your environmental searches and make your conveyancing process more efficient.
The original version of this article was originally published by Landmark Information Group. For more information from the full range of Environmental Insights remastered products available from OneSearch, click here.
In the fast-paced world of property transactions, conveyancers and solicitors face the challenge of ensuring that every decision made is both informed and accurate.
Among the myriad of decisions is the selection of an appropriate environmental risk assessment, a critical factor that can influence the overall success of a property deal. However, not all assessments are created equal. The depth and accuracy of an environmental risk assessment can vary significantly depending on the level of expertise and experience involved. The more environmental consultant involvement, the more precise the risk assessment, ultimately benefiting all parties involved. We will explore why relying on expert insights from environmental consultants is paramount to reducing risks and ensuring the most accurate outcomes.
The value of environmental expertise
Environmental risk assessments are not just routine checks; they are comprehensive evaluations that can help identify risks such as flooding, contamination, subsidence, and other environmental hazards that could affect a property’s value or usability. For conveyancers and solicitors, these assessments are essential to ensure that their clients are fully informed about any potential risks associated with the property they are purchasing. However, not all assessments provide the same level of detail or accuracy.
Environmental consultants bring years of experience and specialised knowledge to the table, allowing them to interpret data in ways that automated systems simply cannot. The more expert involvement, the higher the degree of accuracy in identifying and evaluating risks.
Understanding Landmark’s three tiers of risk assessment
At our parent company Landmark, we offer three tiers of risk assessment, each varying in the level of expert involvement and data analysis:
- Professional Opinion: This is the highest level of accuracy available. When a full data assessment indicates a high risk, the report is referred to Landmark’s environmental consultants for a professional opinion. This ensures that every aspect of the risk is thoroughly evaluated, and where possible, the risk outcome may be downgraded based on the consultant’s expertise and methodology. This tier is particularly valuable in complex cases where the stakes are high, providing peace of mind that no stone has been left unturned. It ensures that the risk evaluation is not solely reliant on automated data but also benefits from expert interpretation and judgment.
- Full Assessment: This tier offers a data-driven assessment with an automated outcome. It still provides a robust evaluation that negates the need for ancillary reports and for many environmental risks, this represents the highest level of assessment available. For conveyancers, this option often provides a balance between cost and comprehensiveness but does not offer the same level of risk mitigation as the Professional Opinion.
- Alert Assessment: The Alert Assessment is a high-level summary of any potential risks identified from the data within the search area. This assessment highlights possible risks that may be relevant to the property, prompting further investigation. While this tier offers a quick overview, it is less detailed and may require follow-up reports for a more accurate risk evaluation.
The benefits of consultant involvement
Involving environmental consultants in the risk assessment process has several key benefits:
- Efficiency: In some cases, consultant involvement can streamline the process by reducing the need for follow-on reports, saving time and resources.
- Accuracy: Consultants can provide a more accurate risk assessment by interpreting data in context, considering factors that automated systems might overlook.
- Risk Reduction: By identifying and mitigating potential risks early, consultants can help prevent costly issues from arising later in the property transaction process.
- Confidence: Knowing that a consultant has reviewed the assessment provides an additional layer of assurance for both conveyancers and their clients.
Case study introduction
To illustrate the importance of expert involvement in environmental risk assessments, consider the case of a residential property located in a flood-prone area. Initially, an automated assessment flagged the property as high-risk, which could have jeopardised the transaction. However, after the report was referred for a Professional Opinion, Landmark’s environmental consultants conducted a thorough review. Their expert analysis revealed that the actual risk was significantly lower than initially indicated, allowing the transaction to proceed with confidence. By involving consultants from the outset, conveyancers and solicitors can provide their clients with more accurate information, potentially saving time and money.
Download the Product Comparison Matrix and Toolkit
Choosing the right level of environmental risk assessment can have a significant impact on your property transactions. To help you make the best decision, we invite you to download and review the product comparison matrix and toolkit. These resources will help you make informed decisions about which assessments to order, ensuring that you provide the best possible service to your clients.
Don’t leave your decisions to chance—rely on Landmark’s 30 years of expertise and experience to keep your transaction moving.
The original version of this article was originally published by Landmark Information Group. For more information from the full range of Environmental Insights remastered products available top order from OneSearch, click here.