The disappearing generalist conveyancer
Summary
The article argues that conveyancing is becoming increasingly specialised, with fewer practitioners retaining broad experience across the full range of transaction types. It attributes this to rising regulatory complexity, including Building Safety Act-related requirements and evolving lender expectations, alongside firm structures that segment work into narrower roles.
Why it matters
For residential property surveyors, the trend affects transaction progress, risk management and the reliability of professional coordination around complex cases. It also highlights the importance of understanding which conveyancers have genuine experience with leasehold, shared ownership and higher-risk building matters.
Key points
- Generalist conveyancers are becoming harder to find as the profession narrows into specialist roles.
- Regulatory demands and insurer expectations are increasing the amount of risk management required on each file.
- The Building Safety Act has added complexity to leasehold transactions in higher-risk buildings.
- Agents and brokers are encouraged to ask how often a firm handles non-standard cases and who will work the file.
- Broad conveyancing experience is becoming more valuable as the range of transaction types remains wide.
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