Nationwide Becomes First Lender to Allow Mortgage Deeds to Be Signed Digitally

WHY THIS MATTERS: The biggest hurdle in achieving true mortgage digitalisation has always been the legal requirement for paper-based, witnessed signatures on critical documents like the mortgage deed. Nationwide’s collaboration with HM Land Registry to implement Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) is not just a marginal operational improvement for one building society; it is a profound regulatory and technological milestone for the entire UK housing market. This move signals the definitive removal of one of the last, most time-consuming friction points in the property buying journey. By fully validating a digitally verified identity for a document that ties a loan to a property, the industry is accelerating the shift towards a seamless, truly end-to-end digital property transaction ecosystem. Crucially, the enhanced security features of QES directly address long-standing concerns about fraud and data tampering. This is the necessary regulatory clarity that will now compel other major lenders to follow suit, fundamentally resetting the standards for speed and trust in digital conveyancing.

Nationwide has become the first lender to allow a mortgage deed to be signed electronically and without the need for a witness. Anyone purchasing a property or looking to remortgage with Nationwide will now be able to sign their mortgage deed electronically, if their solicitor or conveyancer is set up to use Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).

The move, made possible through collaboration with HM Land Registry, Your Conveyancer and Veyco, forms part of Britain’s biggest building society’s continued efforts to digitalise and speed up the homebuying process.

A mortgage deed is a legal document tying a person’s mortgage to their property. It has traditionally required a physical signature on paper. However, Nationwide will now allow QES1 – a secure type of electronic signature that has been identity-verified – to be used following HM Land Registry’s decision in August 2025 to begin accepting them as part of the mortgage application process.

A QES offers better protection for consumers. It proves who signed the deed, better protects against tampering and has the equivalent legal standing of a handwritten, witnessed signature. It also ensures that contract exchanging can happen much quicker.

Your Conveyancer became the first conveyancer to utilise the new electronic mortgage document, via their integration with technology provider, Veyco. It was used on a remortgage application and enabled the mortgage deed to be sent for registration much more quickly, avoiding the time-consuming exchange of paper documents and the need for a wet-ink signature.

Henry Jordan, Nationwide’s Group Director of Mortgages, said: “Nationwide is committed to speeding up the homebuying process and reducing the stress and inconvenience that can come with buying a home. Technology and collaboration are key to driving convenience and that is why we’re delighted to have worked with HM Land Registry, Your Conveyancer and Veyco to become the first mortgage lender to allow electronic signatures on mortgage deeds.”

Andy Roddy, Deputy Director – Digital Services at HM Land Registry, said: “Congratulations to Nationwide on becoming the first lender to enable mortgage deeds to be signed digitally using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES). This is a significant step forward for the UK property market, setting a new standard for secure and convenient transactions. The adoption of QES marks a positive shift towards a more efficient, digital future for property professionals and consumers alike. 

“This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration across the sector and responds to the changing needs of our customers. Our Strategy 2025+ lays out how we aim to support the creation of systems to support services for property ownership and to strengthen buying and selling property to make it easier for all.  By embracing QES, Nationwide is not only enhancing security and speeding up the process for homebuyers but also paving the way for wider adoption across the market. 

“We look forward to seeing others follow Nationwide’s lead, helping to make property transactions simpler and safer for everyone.” 

Martin Bourke, Managing Director, Your Conveyancer, said: “Being the first conveyancer to complete a mortgage using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) is a major milestone for us and for the wider conveyancing industry. This has only been possible through close collaboration with Nationwide, HM Land Registry and Veyco. It demonstrates what can be achieved when the industry works together to modernise the homebuying and remortgage process.

“The innovation removes 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.

“The introduction of QES benefits all parties involved, including a reduction in the risk of mortgage fraud, a reduction in requisitions from HM Land Registry, and a platform for clients and customers to sign the legal charge electronically, removing the need for the document to be witnessed and returned by post to the acting conveyancer.”

Edd Prosser-Jones, Veyco’s Partnerships Director, said: “Veyco began with a clear mission: to develop technology that eradicates fraud and risk across the conveyancing lifecycle. Today’s announcement underlines our continued commitment to delivering on that ambition.

“The introduction of Qualified Electronic Signatures into lender workflows represents a genuine sea change for the industry, removing friction for borrowers while eradicating fraud, risk, and uncertainty for lenders on what is arguably their most important document, the legal charge.

“Making the homebuying process faster, smoother, and more secure is now a tangible reality, driven by the work of HM Land Registry’s transformation team supported by the forward-thinking leadership of Nationwide and Your Conveyancer in pushing the boundaries of innovation.”

FF NEWS TAKE: This development unequivocally moves the needle for the UK property sector, transforming a historic, paper-dependent choke point into an accelerator. The successful deployment of Qualified Electronic Signatures by a major lender serves as a proof point that regulators are now fully aligned with the need for modern, secure digital conveyancing. We should watch closely for the speed at which other tier-one banks integrate this capability. The next inevitable step will be the push to apply identity-verified e-signatures across the entire chain, from initial offer through to final completion.

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