AI for Breakfast

Chris Witham • June 18, 2024

Post 153 - How AI is transforming the UK conveyancing process


It seems to me that the coveyancing process takes forever I thought I'd ask Perplexity if it had any ideas on how AI could perhaps speed up the process. Here's what I got:


Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various industries, and the UK conveyancing sector is no exception. Conveyancing, the legal process of transferring property ownership, has long been known for its complexity, lengthy timelines, and significant paperwork. However, AI is now being leveraged to streamline and expedite this process, benefiting both conveyancers and their clients.

One of the primary ways AI is being used in conveyancing is through document analysis and automation. AI-powered tools can quickly scan and interpret large volumes of legal documents, extracting key information and identifying potential issues[1][2]. This not only saves conveyancers countless hours of manual review but also reduces the risk of human error. By automating routine tasks, conveyancers can focus on more complex aspects of the transaction, ultimately providing a better service to their clients.

AI is also being employed to enhance the client onboarding process. Machine learning algorithms can verify client identities, check documents, and flag potential fraud, all in a matter of minutes[12]. This not only improves the efficiency of the onboarding process but also strengthens compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

Another area where AI is making a significant impact is in the realm of property searches. Traditionally, conveyancers would manually conduct various searches to uncover information about a property, such as planning permissions, flood risks, and local authority data. Now, AI-driven platforms can aggregate and analyze this data much more quickly and accurately[6][19]. This not only expedites the search process but also provides clients with more comprehensive and reliable information about their prospective property.

Furthermore, AI is being used to develop predictive models that can forecast potential issues or delays in the conveyancing process. By analyzing vast amounts of historical data, these models can identify patterns and risk factors, allowing conveyancers to proactively address concerns and keep their clients informed[11]. This level of foresight can be invaluable in managing client expectations and ensuring a smoother transaction.

However, it's important to note that AI is not a silver bullet solution. While it can greatly assist conveyancers, it is unlikely to replace the need for human expertise entirely. Conveyancing often involves complex legal issues and nuanced decision-making that require the judgment and experience of qualified professionals[4][15]. As such, the role of AI in conveyancing is likely to remain a supportive one, augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities.

In conclusion, AI is revolutionizing the UK conveyancing landscape by automating routine tasks, enhancing data analysis, and providing predictive insights. As these technologies continue to evolve, they hold the potential to significantly streamline the property transfer process, benefiting both conveyancers and homebuyers alike. However, it's crucial to recognize that AI is a tool to assist, not replace, the expertise of conveyancing professionals. By striking the right balance between leveraging AI and maintaining human oversight, the UK conveyancing sector can look forward to a more efficient and effective future.


Citations:
[1] https://www.orbitalwitness.com/blog/digital-conveyancing-what-can-conveyancing-firms-expect-when-adopting-ai-technology
[2] https://avrillo.co.uk/ai-in-conveyancing/
[3] https://www.infotrack.co.uk/about/blog/artificial-intelligence-in-conveyancing/
[4] https://todaysconveyancer.co.uk/ai-not-ai/
[5] https://avrillo.co.uk/ai-in-conveyancing-5-benefits-of-using-avrillos-technology/
[6] https://todaysconveyancer.co.uk/ai-mean-conveyancing/
[7] https://www.conveyancingassociation.org.uk/the-importance-of-balancing-humans-and-ai-in-conveyancing/
[8] https://aussiegroup.co.uk/moving-made-easy-how-ai-tools-can-simplify-your-relocation/
[9] https://www.in-case.co.uk/news/ai-in-conveyancing
[10] https://www.bournemouth-removals.co.uk/2023/10/07/how-technology-is-transforming-the-removals-industry-this-year-uk/
[11] https://thenegotiator.co.uk/news/artificial-intelligence-is-reshaping-the-uk-property-industry-for-the-better/
[12] https://modernlawmagazine.com/ai-in-conveyancing/
[13] https://thenegotiator.co.uk/news/new-artificial-intelligence-conveyancing-platform-to-launch-next-year/
[14] https://www.addpropertyfinance.co.uk/how-ai-will-revolutionise-the-property-market-in-the-uk/
[15] https://positivemoney.org/2023/08/the-risks-and-rewards-of-ai-in-the-housing-system/
[16] https://www.hartree.stfc.ac.uk/publications/case-studies/2023/08/14/simplifying-the-house-buying-process-easier-with-ai/
[17] https://www.removalreviews.co.uk/move/how-artificial-intelligence-can-make-your-home-move-easier/
[18] https://vailwilliams.com/where-is-ai-going-in-the-property-sector-and-what-are-the-risks/
[19] https://www.artefact.com/blog/10-ai-tools-which-will-evolve-uk-property-businesses-in-2024/
[20] https://todaysconveyancer.co.uk/ai-mean-conveyancing-conveyo/


Lines of colorful computer code on a dark background.
By Chris Witham December 11, 2025
Where AI really helps your Business If you spend any time on LinkedIn or X, you’ll have seen bold claims about how AI can help you build software in a matter of days. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of big promises, and a fair bit of confusion for business owners trying to work out what’s real. A new term doing the rounds is “Vibe Coding” —the idea of describing what you want to an AI assistant and having it generate the code for you. It’s becoming popular because it can move things forward quickly and help people explore ideas they wouldn’t have been able to create alone. And the truth is, it does have its place. The challenge isn’t the technique. It’s the expectation that AI will automatically deliver finished, reliable, production-ready tools without any real design or thinking behind them. AI accelerates the work you already do well Used properly, AI can: • Remove huge amounts of repetitive work • Speed up drafting and iteration • Generate working prototypes in hours • Help non-technical people explore ideas • Improve documentation, planning and communication This is where it shines. But it still needs clarity, structure, and well-designed processes around it. It’s like having a very fast assistant rather than a fully formed development team. Why many AI projects don’t deliver what people expect Independent research this year showed a clear pattern: • Many early AI initiatives failed to produce measurable business value • Companies abandoned AI ideas because they couldn’t scale or integrate them • The gap between an impressive demo and a reliable tool is larger than people thought This doesn’t mean AI is overhyped. It means teams jumped straight to execution without the groundwork. The technology isn’t the issue. It’s the approach. Small businesses don’t need Enterprise Platforms Most UK small businesses don’t need to build a full software product. What they actually need is: • Better workflows • Faster content generation • Clearer communication • Improved customer support • Tools that reflect the way they work • Consistency and repeatability AI is perfect for this. A custom GPT trained on your tone, your documents and your processes can become: • A writing assistant • A customer support helper • A knowledge base navigator • An internal guide for staff • A quality-control layer • A process automator No engineering team needed. No complex infrastructure. No stress. Where AI builds real value right now AI works best when it’s part of a thoughtful, guided approach: • Define the outcome you want • Build a lightweight prototype (AI helps here) • Add structure, rules and guardrails • Connect it to your real workflow • Test it with real users or staff • Iterate until it feels natural You can still move fast. You just avoid building something brittle that breaks the moment it’s needed. The key insight: AI doesn’t replace expertise, it amplifies it AI is at its strongest when someone knowledgeable decides: • What it should do • What it shouldn’t do • How it should behave • What tone it should use • How it fits into the business • What checks and constraints matter That’s where tools like custom GPTs genuinely shine. They’re not software products in the traditional sense. They’re flexible assistants shaped around your business. With the right design, they can save huge amounts of time and deliver consistent, practical value without any of the complexity of building a full system. A more useful way to think about AI in 2026 Instead of “AI will build everything for you”, a healthier mindset is: AI speeds up the work, but you set the direction. For small businesses, that’s more than enough to make a real difference.
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