Digital signatures adoption stalls in property sector

The implementation of Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for property transactions has faced significant challenges, with industry experts warning that current Land Registry guidance is hampering adoption across the conveyancing sector. An open letter from a coalition of e-signing platforms, qualified trust service providers, and legal and technology experts has identified fundamental flaws in the current system, which was introduced to conveyancers at the end of 2025 to accelerate the property transfer process by enabling digital signatures.

Only five completions in first quarter
Data from the first three months of 2026 shows only five registrable dispositions were completed using QES, a figure the industry coalition describes as evidence of systemic problems with the current implementation. Richard Oliphant of RO Legal Consulting, one of the letter’s authors, stated: “We believe that the Land Registry’s QES guidance is fundamentally flawed. It has produced just five registrable dispositions made with QES in Q1 2026.” The limited adoption comes at a time when buyers are increasingly delaying purchase decisions, making efficiency improvements in the conveyancing process more critical for the sector.

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Mandatory requirements block broader use
A primary concern highlighted in the letter is the requirement that all parties in a transaction must use QES, with no option to combine different signature methods. The current system does not permit mixing QES with conveyancer-certified electronic signatures (CCES), mercury signatures, or traditional wet ink signatures. This inflexibility means that even if two parties are ready to sign, a single misalignment with the QES standard halts the entire transfer. For a buyer who may not have a specific trust service provider ready, the wait could be weeks, while the transaction remains stuck in limbo until all technical prerequisites are met. Signatories to the letter include HomeOwner’s Passport and Thirdfort, alongside various legal and technology specialists.

Registry defends strategy amid criticism
A Land Registry spokesperson acknowledged current limitations whilst defending the strategic direction: “QES usage is expected to increase as adoption of the technology grows. Land Registry has been engaging with the market and supporting providers as they develop their QES capability.” The organisation projected usage would rise from single figures in the first six months to more than 300 transactions by the end of August 2026. The spokesperson added: “While we view full QES adoption as our strategic aim, we recognise that today there are barriers to full adoption including a lack of market providers and older working practices which still pervade.” The Land Registry indicated openness to exploring interim options that could enable faster adoption without compromising long-term objectives, potentially for a limited period.

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Warning on economic growth
Oliphant warned that without changes, the guidance “will frustrate HMLR’s, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s and our own aspirations for QES and it will impede economic growth in the conveyancing sector.” The slow adoption of digital signatures represents a setback for efforts to modernise property transactions in England and Wales, with implications for transaction speeds and costs across the sector.