Access Legal: The state of the UK conveyancing market 2026
This is our annual data-driven analysis of the UK conveyancing market, built on 15 months of HM Land Registry data. It covers the market context, competitive landscape, client expectations, compliance obligations, regional breakdown, and the outlook for FY26/27.
Report overview
The State of the UK Conveyancing Market 2026 is the fourth edition of Access Legal’s conveyancing industry report. This year, we analysed 15 months of HM Land Registry data from April 2025 to June 2026, the most extensive dataset in the report’s history. Because of this, we can provide conveyancing firms with an accurate, actionable picture of how the market performed in FY25/26 and what to expect in FY26/27.
The 2026 report captures the immediate aftermath of the April 2025 SDLT threshold changes, and the refinancing landscape that defined FY25/26. It also examines how application volumes are distributed between DLG and TP activity, what 1,388 verified client reviews reveal about the gap between expectations and reality, and how the compliance landscape changed. It closes with a clear-eyed outlook for FY26/27 and seven practical steps for the year ahead.
What the data shows
Here are the key findings:
- 122,810 transactions-for-value applications recorded in March 2026. The highest monthly total during the reporting period. Monthly HMLR dealing completions reached their lowest point in May 2025 (273,694) before rising to a peak of 404,575 in January 2026.
- The number of solicitors practising in conveyancing has fallen to 10,724. Down more than 2,000 since 2021, this creates a structural capacity gap at precisely the moment demand is recovering.
- Average time to exchange reached 123 days to completion. This puts firms under pressure at precisely the moment client expectations around speed and communication are rising fastest.
- Five major regulatory changes came into force in a single twelve-month window. The report breaks down what each one means in practice, so you understand what each one requires and what to prioritise first.
- Taylor Rose Law retained the #1 position nationally with an annual total of 33,395 HMLR applications. It registered 91% more volume than O’Neill Patient (17,501) in second place.
The top 10 firms based on weighted monthly HMLR performance collectively processed over 125,000 applications. The South East represents the highest-volume region, accounting for 22.4% of all combined regional volume across the 15-month period.
Download the report here
