Bold Legal Group Conveyancing Conference 2026: Data, digitalisation and the future of conveyancing.

The Bold Legal Group Conveyancing Conference once again brought together voices from across government, regulation, lending, legal practice and technology to discuss some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the conveyancing sector today.

While topics ranged from home buying reform and AML compliance to digital transactions, AI and referral fees, a common thread emerged throughout the day: the industry’s ability to improve outcomes will depend on how effectively information is collected, shared and used across the transaction.

For us at Perfect Portal, it was particularly interesting because many of the issues discussed don’t begin during the legal process itself. They start much earlier, during quoting, client onboarding and compliance checks.

The home buying reform continues to gather momentum.

Tom Treadwell from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided an update on the government’s Home Buying and Selling Consultation.

With the average transaction still taking around five months and one in three transactions falling through, the government’s focus remains firmly on creating a faster, more transparent and consumer-friendly process.

Much of the discussion centred around upfront information, digital property logbooks and improved data sharing between stakeholders. While there are still practical questions to answer, the direction of travel is clear: gather more information earlier and reduce duplication throughout the transaction.

This aligns closely with what we’re seeing across the industry. The earlier firms can collect accurate information and verify client details, the greater the opportunity to reduce delays later in the process.

Compliance remains front and centre.

The AML breakout session served as a reminder that conveyancing remains one of the highest-risk areas for financial crime.

The panel explored emerging risks including sanctions, cryptocurrency, AI-enabled fraud and source-of-funds verification, but one message stood out above all others: collecting compliance information is only part of the challenge. Firms must also be able to evidence how that information has been reviewed and assessed.

With increasing regulatory scrutiny and discussions around future FCA involvement, firms were encouraged to focus on data quality, audit trails and robust processes rather than relying solely on technology.

As was highlighted during the session, technology should reduce friction and increase assurance, but it should never replace professional judgement.

The industry is moving towards connected transactions.

A recurring theme throughout the day was the need for better collaboration and data sharing across the property transaction.

Discussions around the National Property Transaction Network (NPTN) highlighted growing efforts to connect agents, brokers, lenders and conveyancers through shared digital infrastructure.

The goal is simple: reduce duplication, eliminate unnecessary delays and create a more transparent experience for consumers.

From a Perfect Portal perspective, this reinforces the importance of getting the quoting and onboarding stages right. Accurate, structured information collected at instruction stage becomes significantly more valuable when it can flow through the transaction rather than being repeatedly requested from clients.

Beyond digital: Preparing for the next wave of change.

One of the most thought-provoking sessions came from InfoTrack’s Head of Product, Louise Edwards, who reflected on how quickly the industry’s focus is shifting from digital transformation to AI adoption.

While many firms are still navigating digital change, the next technology curve is already arriving. The challenge for firms isn’t simply adopting more technology, but identifying solutions that genuinely improve productivity, compliance and client experience.

Technology should make processes simpler, not more complicated, and the firms that succeed will be those that focus on practical outcomes rather than chasing innovation for its own sake.

Transparency and specialisation continue to shape the market.

The afternoon sessions explored two topics that continue to generate debate across the sector: SDLT and referral fees. The discussion around SDLT outsourcing highlighted the growing complexity firms face when balancing specialist expertise, risk management and operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, the session on referral fees and the CLC’s latest research reinforced the ongoing importance of transparency and consumer trust. Regardless of individual views on referral arrangements, clients increasingly expect clarity around how recommendations are made and the value they receive.

Final thoughts.

If there was one takeaway from this year’s conference, it was that the conveyancing industry is increasingly focused on reducing friction.

Whether through upfront information, stronger compliance processes, better data sharing or smarter technology, many of the solutions discussed ultimately come back to the same principle: providing the right information to the right people at the right time.

For firms looking to improve efficiency, compliance and client experience, that journey starts long before exchange or completion. It starts from the very first interaction with a client.