Residential conveyancing capacity is under growing pressure: the number of practising conveyancing solicitors has fallen by more than 2,000 since the end of 2021, while average time to exchange has reached around 123 days. Delays can increase fallout risk, create stress for borrowers and leave mortgage offers exposed to expiry or changing lender terms.
AI-enabled document triage, milestone tracking and client communications may help advisers and conveyancers identify stalled cases earlier. Yet automation must be deployed carefully in a fraud-sensitive process. FCA commentary on financial crime reinforces the importance of robust customer due diligence, ongoing monitoring, escalation procedures and clear accountability. Advisers should treat AI as a tool for prioritisation and evidence gathering, rather than a substitute for legal judgement, AML controls or verification.