UK financial institution makes main change to ‘assist velocity up’ shopping for a house

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Nationwide Constructing Society has introduced a major step in direction of streamlining the home-buying course of, confirming that mortgage deeds can now be signed electronically with out the normal requirement for a witness.

This modification means individuals buying a property or remortgaging with Nationwide can utilise certified digital signature (QES) know-how, offered their solicitor or conveyancer is provided to take action.

This contemporary method is at present relevant to properties positioned in England and Wales.

Historically, a mortgage deed, the essential authorized doc linking an individual's mortgage to their property, has necessitated a bodily signature on paper.

Nonetheless, Nationwide will now settle for QES – a safe, identity-verified type of digital signature – following the Land Registry's determination final 12 months to combine this into the mortgage software process.

The constructing society highlighted that this progressive transfer was made attainable by a collaborative effort involving the Land Registry, Your Conveyancer, and know-how supplier Veyco, aiming to cut back inconvenience and speed up transactions.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/28/14/e6fb0489cefa132467df5c3097727980Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4NTIzMjc2-2.79591513.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/28/14/e6fb0489cefa132467df5c3097727980Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4NTIzMjc2-2.79591513.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/28/14/e6fb0489cefa132467df5c3097727980Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4NTIzMjc2-2.79591513.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Nationwide Building Society has said it will allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically, without the need for a witness, as part of moves to help speed up and remove some of the inconvenience from the home-buying process" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Nationwide Constructing Society has mentioned it should enable mortgage deeds to be signed electronically, with out the necessity for a witness, as a part of strikes to assist velocity up and take away among the inconvenience from the home-buying course of (PA Wire) Henry Jordan, Nationwide’s group director of mortgages, mentioned: “Nationwide is dedicated to rushing up the home-buying course of and lowering the stress and inconvenience that may include shopping for a house.”

Andy Roddy, deputy director – digital providers on the Land Registry, mentioned: “We stay up for seeing others observe Nationwide’s lead, serving to to make property transactions less complicated and safer for everybody.”

Martin Bourke, managing director of Your Conveyancer, mentioned the initiative “demonstrates what could be achieved when the trade works collectively to modernise the home-buying and remortgage course of.”

He added: “The innovation removes one of many final remaining paper-based steps within the transaction, serving to shoppers and prospects full their remortgage or buy transaction utilising a completely digital journey.”

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Edd Prosser-Jones, Veyco’s partnerships director, mentioned: “Making the home-buying course of sooner, smoother and safer is now a tangible actuality.”

Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical supervisor at John Charcol, mentioned: “This can be a genuinely vital step for the mortgage market. The mortgage deed has been one of many final stubbornly paper-based components of the method, so permitting it to be signed digitally removes actual friction slightly than simply sprucing the sides.

“For debtors, it ought to imply fewer delays at a essential level and fewer reliance on printing, posting and witnessing paperwork at quick discover. It additionally provides extra certainty at change, with fewer transferring components at a degree the place transactions are most weak to delay.

“For lenders and conveyancers, eradicating the necessity to bodily deal with and return deeds ought to lower out last-minute hold-ups that usually sit exterior the customer’s management.

“Crucially, this isn't nearly velocity. The identification checks and audit path behind certified digital signatures strengthens safety round one of the essential paperwork within the course of.”

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/20/7/03/GettyImages-2065806033.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/20/7/03/GettyImages-2065806033.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/20/7/03/GettyImages-2065806033.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Nationwide will now accept QES – a secure, identity-verified form of electronic signature – following the Land Registry's decision last year to integrate this into the mortgage application procedure." class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Nationwide will now settle for QES – a safe, identity-verified type of digital signature – following the Land Registry's determination final 12 months to combine this into the mortgage software process. (Getty Pictures) Mr Mendes added that “the actual profit will come as extra companies observe and this turns into the default, not the exception”.

Mary-Lou Press, president of NAEA (Nationwide Affiliation of Property Brokers) Propertymark mentioned: “The conveyancing course of stays one of the widespread sources of frustration for consumers and sellers, with greater than 30 per cent of housing transactions taking up 17 weeks to finish on common.

“These extended timescales solely serve to extend stress and uncertainty throughout what's already one of the traumatic monetary commitments individuals will make of their lifetime.

“It's subsequently welcome information that technological enhancements will enable mortgage deeds to be signed digitally, serving to to take away pointless delays from the method.

“Embracing digital options has the potential not solely to hurry up transactions but additionally to enhance accuracy, scale back administrative burdens, and provides consumers and sellers higher confidence as they transfer by the system.

“Because the home-buying course of continues to modernise, it's vital that these improvements are adopted constantly throughout the mortgage and conveyancing sectors.

“Widespread take-up may play a major function in lowering transaction instances, bettering shopper expertise, and serving to to create a extra environment friendly and resilient housing market total.”