Nationwide Building Society has launched a new system allowing customers to sign mortgage deeds electronically, removing the need for physical paperwork and witness signatures.
The building society said homebuyers and customers remortgaging will be able to complete mortgage deeds using qualified electronic signature technology, provided their solicitor or conveyancer supports the system.
The digital signing option will initially apply only to properties in England and Wales.
Mortgage deeds are the legal documents linking a borrower’s mortgage loan to their property and have traditionally required handwritten signatures.
The move follows a decision by the Land Registry last year to begin accepting qualified electronic signatures as part of mortgage applications, paving the way for lenders to introduce digital processes.
Nationwide developed the system in collaboration with the Land Registry, conveyancing firm Your Conveyancer and technology provider Veyco.
Henry Jordan, group director of mortgages at Nationwide, said: “Nationwide is committed to speeding up the home‑buying process and reducing the stress and inconvenience that can come with buying a home.”
The Land Registry said it hopes other lenders will adopt similar technology. Andy Roddy, deputy director of digital services, said: “We look forward to seeing others follow Nationwide’s lead, helping to make property transactions simpler and safer for everyone.”
Nationwide will allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically without a witness
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GETTY / NATIONWIDEMartin Bourke, managing director of Your Conveyancer, said the development shows how industry collaboration can support modernisation across property transactions.
“The innovation [is] hooking one of the last remaining paper‑based steps in the transaction, helping clients and customers complete their remortgage or purchase transaction utilising a fully digital journey,” he said.
Mortgage industry experts said the change represents a significant shift in how property transactions are processed.
Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager at John Charcol, said: “This is a genuinely significant step for the mortgage market.
The initiative aims to ‘help speed up home-buying process’
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GETTY“The mortgage deed has been one of the last stubbornly paper‑based parts of the process, so allowing it to be signed digitally removes real friction rather than just polishing the edges.”
Mr Mendes said borrowers could experience fewer delays, with reduced reliance on printing, posting and arranging witnesses.
He added that qualified electronic signature technology provides enhanced identity verification and audit trails, strengthening protections around mortgage documentation.
Property industry representatives have highlighted the scale of delays affecting housing transactions.
Over 30 per cent of housing transactions taking over 17 weeks to complete
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Mary‑Lou Press, president of NAEA Propertymark, said: “The conveyancing process remains one of the most common sources of frustration for buyers and sellers, with more than 30 per cent of housing transactions taking over 17 weeks to complete on average.”
She extended timelines add pressure and uncertainty to transactions, and that digital technology could improve accuracy while reducing administrative workloads for lenders, conveyancers and buyers.
Consistent adoption across the mortgage and conveyancing sectors could reduce transaction times and improve efficiency across the housing market.
