The world of conveyancing is being told that the answer to delays and fall-throughs lies in digitisation. Government pilots are underway to pull together planning, highways and building regulation data, feed it into a central system, and cut weeks from transaction times. On paper, it sounds like progress. Faster searches, cleaner information, and fewer chains breaking apart at the last minute.

Yet those working closest to the process know it is not so simple. A centralised system only works if the data being uploaded is accurate, complete, and regularly maintained. Without context, a raw entry can mean little, or worse, mislead. The human ability to question, interpret and explain is what makes the difference for solicitors and their clients. That is where IPSA members have always stepped in – turning a dataset into an insight.

At the same time, the fragility of digital systems has been thrown into sharp relief. Hackney Council, hit by a cyberattack, was unable to provide full searches for months. Even today, they can only offer a partial service, with turnarounds stretching to weeks. Buyers and conveyancers caught in the middle had little choice but to wait, or risk pressing ahead without the full picture. That episode showed just how dependent the process has become on the reliability of local systems.

The worry is that as more councils hand their records to central platforms, the risks grow. A single cyberattack on a national system could paralyse hundreds of transactions at once, far beyond the disruption seen in Hackney. Centralisation creates efficiency, but it also makes for bigger, more tempting targets. If multiple datasets are brought together, the impact of a breach could be deeper and more damaging than before.

That doesn’t mean digitisation should stop. Efficiency matters, especially in a volatile market where lenders change products overnight and buyers expect answers yesterday. Yet speed must never be bought at the cost of accuracy, security or interpretation. Local knowledge and the professional judgement of independent search agents remain vital, not optional extras.

This week on IPSA Kind of Magic, Gareth Wax and I, Hamish McLay, will be taking a closer look at what all this means in practice. We’ll be joined by Mahesh Kerai, who brings valuable insight into how digitisation and resilience are being handled on the ground. Together, we’ll be asking what lessons should be taken from Hackney, and whether these government pilots can really deliver for conveyancers.

For conveyancers, the balance is clear. Trusting too much in technology leaves transactions exposed to the same risks Hackney’s buyers faced – long waits and fragile confidence. Trusting too little risks being left behind by reform. The middle ground is to welcome new tools, while recognising that they are only as reliable as the data beneath them and the people interpreting it.

As reform continues, IPSA members will keep reminding the industry that property searches are not just about ticking digital boxes. They are about protecting buyers, ensuring solicitors have the full story, and making sure that when something doesn’t look right, it gets spotted before the contract is signed.

Catch the discussion live on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea

PS:
For content enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For podcast/media info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.