CILEX calls for stronger regulation of high-volume conveyancing sector to support homebuying reforms

5 January 2026

Stronger regulation of the high-volume, low-value conveyancing sector will be required to ensure the success of reforms aimed at improving the speed and efficiency of the conveyancing process, says CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives).

A review into the current fee structure for conveyancing work is also needed to ensure that quality of advice is not sacrificed in the move to a more streamlined service.

CILEX highlights the “inefficiencies and process bottlenecks” caused by high-volume, low-fee operating models that place conveyancing lawyers under substantial pressure, as well as the “frustration and disjointed communication” that can occur between different representatives in complex chains. It recommends “collaborative regulatory action” carried out by the Legal Services Board with support from frontline regulators to “ensure that service quality and protection is not compromised”.

A review of conveyancing fees should be undertaken to support the reforms, with changes that enable firms not to over-commit to extremely high caseloads and so ensure the consumer is receiving the client care they deserve. This, alongside other measures, would mitigate against the “unprecedented strain, relentless workloads and tight profit margins” faced by many conveyancing lawyers.

The value of better client care and efficiency would outweigh any increase in costs, CILEX maintains.

The recommendations have been put forward in CILEX’s response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultations on home buying and selling reform and the provision of material information in property listings, which closed on 29 December.

CILEX supports the mandatory provision of upfront information when marketing a property, stressing the importance of consumer education on the consequences of providing inaccurate details. It also agrees with the introduction of digital logbooks, arguing that this must be backed by legislation. It considers that binding conditional contracts would be beneficial but says more work is required to establish the practicalities of this approach outside chain-free transactions.

CILEX argues that responsibility for anti-money laundering (AML) to be discharged to those who first engage with the consumer – generally a mortgage broker or lender – removing this “heavily burdensome administrative task” from conveyancers. Given the recently announced plans for the Financial Conduct Authority to take over the supervision of AML compliance from legal regulators, this would avoid conveyancers being subject to dual regulation and the need for consumers to verify source of funds more than once in a transaction.

Alongside government implementation of Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) measures, CILEX is also calling for an urgent review of referral fees amid concerns that many estate agents are not adhering to transparency requirements, to the detriment of consumers. CILEX supports the introduction of a code of practice for estate agents, along with mandatory training or certification in relation to the provision of material information.

CILEX President Sara Fowler says: “We need a faster and more reliable conveyancing process that keeps pace with technological advances, holds all professionals involved to high standards and engenders the trust and confidence of consumers.

“It is imperative that in pursuit of speedier transactions there is no compromise on quality of service and that consumers get the expert advice they need. The government’s proposals offer much needed change to the sector but if the reforms are to be a long-term success, we need to see strong regulation and education, a review of current fee structures and transparency on referral fees to ensure that consumer protection is at the heart of these reforms.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Louise Eckersley, Black Letter Communications on 0203 567 1208 or email at [email protected]

Kerry Jack, Black Letter Communications on 07525 756 599 or email at [email protected]

Notes to editors:

CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) is one of the three main professional bodies covering the legal profession in England and Wales. The approximately 18,000 -strong membership is made up of CILEX Lawyers, Chartered Legal Executives, paralegals and other legal professionals.

CILEX pioneered the non-university route into law and recently launched the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), a new approach to on-the-job training that marries legal knowledge with the practical skills, behaviours and commercial awareness needed by lawyers in the 2020s.

The CPQ is a progressive qualification framework that creates a workforce of specialist legal professionals, providing a career ladder from Paralegal through to Advanced Paralegal and ultimately full qualification as a CILEX Lawyer. CILEX Lawyers can become partners in law firms, coroners, judges or advocates in open court.

CILEX members come from more diverse backgrounds than other parts of the legal profession:

76% of its lawyers are women
16% are from ethnic minority backgrounds
- 8% are Asian or Asian British
- 5% are Black or Black British
- 3% are from a mixed ethnic background
77% attended state schools
63% come from families where neither parent attended university
Only 3% of its members have a parent who is a lawyer.

CILEX members are regulated through an independent body, CILEx Regulation. It is the only regulator covering paralegals.