Introduction
When people talk about AI in property, most think of mortgage sourcing or client facing apps. But some of the most profound changes are happening behind the scenes, in the less glamorous but absolutely essential parts of the property transaction: valuation and conveyancing.
These are the functions that underpin trust in the market. Valuers ensure properties are worth what lenders are prepared to advance. Conveyancers make sure titles, contracts, and searches are accurate before a buyer gets the keys. Both roles are vital and both are increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.
AI is not about replacing surveyors or solicitors. It’s about making their work faster, more accurate, and less prone to error. For firms that adopt, the gains are significant. For those that resist, the risks are equally clear.
The new professional standard
In September 2025, RICS published its first global professional standard on the responsible use of AI in surveying practice. The document makes it plain: AI will play a role in valuations and property services and practitioners need to understand how to use it responsibly. The standard comes into effect in March 2026, but its impact is immediate.
This isn’t optional guidance. It’s a professional requirement. Surveyors who ignore it risk falling out of step with their governing body. For firms, it sets a framework for adopting AI tools while protecting the integrity of valuations.
Land Registry leads the way
HM Land Registry is another example of how AI is already embedded in property services. In its 2024–25 performance report, the Registry highlighted an AI-powered document comparison solution developed with Kainos. This system checks documents faster and more accurately than manual methods, improving case turnaround times. The project was recognised at the 2024 AI Awards.
For conveyancers, this sets a clear precedent. If Land Registry is embracing AI to improve efficiency, law firms and panel managers can’t ignore it. Faster, more accurate property registration means clients will increasingly expect the same speed from their solicitors.
Why valuation and conveyancing matter for AI adoption
Mortgage brokers and lenders often focus on speed to offer. But what happens further down the line is just as important. Delays or errors in valuation or conveyancing can derail a deal, frustrate clients, and damage reputations.
AI in these areas offers tangible benefits:
- Faster turnaround of property valuations and reports
- Reduced risk of human error in document checking
- Early identification of anomalies in contracts or title documents
- More consistent application of standards across cases
By adopting AI in these functions, firms can deliver a smoother end-to-end client experience.
What AI can do in valuation today
AI tools are already being trialled to support surveyors. Examples include:
- Automating repetitive sections of valuation reports
- Flagging discrepancies between comparable property data and valuation notes
- Analysing large datasets to spot trends in local housing markets
- Supporting consistency checks across multiple surveyors within the same firm
These are support tools, not substitutes. They allow valuers to focus on professional judgement rather than admin.
What AI can do in conveyancing
Conveyancing is notoriously paperwork-heavy. AI can help by:
- Comparing versions of contracts to highlight changes
- Spotting missing documents in case files
- Summarising long title deeds or lease agreements into plain English
- Flagging risks or inconsistencies for solicitors to review
Again, the point is not replacement. AI doesn’t sign off on legal advice or carry liability. It simply reduces the hours spent on repetitive document work.
Concerns and risks
As with brokers, professionals in valuation and conveyancing are cautious. The main concerns include:
- Accuracy: AI can make mistakes if data is poor or prompts are vague.
- Accountability: surveyors and solicitors remain responsible for the outputs, even if AI did the first draft.
- Bias: algorithms trained on incomplete data could embed systemic bias into valuations.
- Regulation: lack of clarity on what tools are acceptable and how they should be governed.
This is why the RICS standard and UK Finance guidance are so important. They provide a framework for responsible use, ensuring professionals stay in control.
The risk of standing still
The danger isn’t that AI will replace professionals in the property sector. It’s that firms who resist adoption will be seen as slow, expensive and maybe less reliable.
Corporate clients will start asking why one solicitor can provide clear, AI-summarised reports in days while another takes weeks. Lenders will ask why one valuer consistently delivers faster turnaround than another. Over time, firms who ignore AI may find themselves excluded from panels or passed over by clients.
Doing nothing is not an option. It risks falling behind in an industry where speed and accuracy are increasingly valued.
The opportunity for small practices
Small surveying and conveyancing firms may feel at a disadvantage compared to national players. But AI is levelling the field. Tools that once required enterprise budgets are now available on subscription.
A small firm can now deploy AI to handle routine contract comparisons or report drafting, competing on speed and professionalism with much larger firms. Agility becomes the advantage: the ability to adopt, test, and refine quickly without the bureaucracy of a big organisation.
Practical steps for adoption
For firms considering AI in valuation or conveyancing, the starting points are straightforward:
- Identify repetitive tasks that drain time, such as contract reviews or report formatting.
- Test AI tools in-house on anonymised data before rolling out in live cases.
- Train staff on both the potential and the limits of AI.
- Put governance in place, aligned with the new RICS standard.
By starting small and safe, firms can build confidence before scaling up.
A shift in professional identity
One of the most interesting aspects of AI adoption in property services is cultural. Surveyors and conveyancers have long prided themselves on precision, detail and expertise. Some fear that introducing AI will dilute that professionalism.
In reality, the opposite is true. AI frees professionals to focus on the judgement and interpretation that clients actually pay for. It strips out the drudgery, allowing firms to emphasise the uniquely human value they bring.
Conclusion
AI is no longer a distant concept. It is embedded in the standards set by RICS, operational at HM Land Registry, and creeping into the workflows of solicitors and valuers across the country.
The choice is not whether AI will be part of valuation and conveyancing. It already is. The choice is whether firms will engage with it responsibly, upskill, and compete on speed and accuracy, or whether they will resist and risk being left behind.
For professionals committed to accuracy, trust and client service, AI is not a threat. It is the next essential tool of the trade.
