AI for Breakfast

Chris Witham • July 9, 2024

Post 174 - How AI is transforming the conveyancing process in the UK housing market.


Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will make in their lives. It's an exciting but often stressful process, especially when it comes to the legal side of things - conveyancing. Conveyancing refers to the legal transfer of home ownership from the seller to the buyer. It typically takes 8-12 weeks and involves a lot of paperwork, searches, enquiries and potential delays [1][2][3].

However, artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to revolutionise the conveyancing industry in the UK. By automating routine tasks, providing advanced data analysis, and improving communication between parties, AI has the potential to make the home buying process faster, more efficient and less prone to delays or failures. Here are some of the key benefits of using AI in conveyancing:

Faster transactions

One of the main advantages of AI is that it can significantly speed up the conveyancing process. Machine learning algorithms can automate time-consuming administrative tasks like filling out forms, ordering searches, and chasing parties for information[4][6].


Chatbots powered by natural language processing can engage with clients 24/7, answering common questions and freeing up conveyancers to focus on more complex legal work[5]. By streamlining these workflows, transactions can be completed in a matter of days or weeks rather than months.

More accurate due diligence 

AI-powered software can rapidly analyze vast amounts of data from property searches, land registries, mortgage documents and more. It can highlight any potential red flags or discrepancies that a human may miss[4][7]. For example, it could identify restrictive covenants on a property, planning constraints, flood risks, etc. This reduces the chances of nasty surprises down the line that could jeopardize the sale. Buyers can proceed with more peace of mind.

Better communication and transparency

Another key benefit of AI is improving communication between all the parties involved in the conveyancing process - buyers, sellers, estate agents, mortgage brokers, surveyors, etc. Platforms can provide real-time updates on the progress of the transaction so everyone is kept in the loop[5][7]. Blockchain technology could also be used to securely share and verify documentation, minimizing the risk of fraud[4].

The future of AI in conveyancing

As AI continues to advance, its role in the conveyancing industry will only grow. We may see intelligent systems that can actually understand the meaning behind clauses in contracts and flag any issues[8]. Predictive analytics could assess the risk profile of a transaction based on a buyer's history. While AI will never fully replace the expertise of trained conveyancers, it will increasingly become a tool to augment their capabilities. Forward-thinking legal firms in the UK that embrace this technology now will be well-positioned to thrive.

In conclusion, the traditional conveyancing process has long been a source of frustration for home buyers in the UK. But with the help of artificial intelligence, the future is looking much brighter. By enabling faster transactions, more robust due diligence, and better communication, AI could take much of the hassle out of this important step to home ownership.

Citations:
[1] https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/conveyancing-made-easy-for-buyers/
[2] https://www.solegal.co.uk/insights/stages-conveyancing-process-explained
[3] https://www.insight-law.co.uk/blog/the-conveyancing-process-a-step-by-step-guide/
[4] https://www.in-case.co.uk/news/ai-in-conveyancing
[5] https://thenegotiator.co.uk/news/artificial-intelligence-is-reshaping-the-uk-property-industry-for-the-better/
[6] https://robocloud.co.uk/automated-conveyancing-processes/
[7] https://avrillo.co.uk/ai-in-conveyancing/
[8] https://www.hartree.stfc.ac.uk/publications/case-studies/2023/08/14/simplifying-the-house-buying-process-easier-with-ai/

By Chris Witham February 20, 2026
Not every week ends with a certificate. This one did.
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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