Press Release
23/09/2025
For Immediate Release
London property law firm RSL LAW has hit back at claims that solicitors are responsible for Britain’s “broken” home buying process, arguing lenders are the main cause of failed purchases.
A September report commissioned by Santander, Fixing the Broken Chain, claims the length and complexity of purchasing a home is having a “profound impact” on consumers and the economy, with half a million failed transactions each year.
However, Pall Mall firm RSL LAW says the bank’s own figures reveal that mortgages, not legal issues, are the main obstacle to completion.
Of 2,363 buyers surveyed in the report, less than half (41%) said getting a mortgage offer was easy, while fewer respondents found the legal process difficult.
Tatiana Sharposhnikova, founder and CEO of RSL LAW, said: “It is clear from the data that buying a home is too difficult for many, and this needs to change.
“However, our own experiences show that it is lenders, not solicitors, who are creating unnecessary issues for buyers by making it harder to access finance.
“Santander can dress up their figures how they like, but banks must sit up and take notice of what their own customers are saying.”
Among the report’s other findings, being unable to agree on mortgage terms with a lender was cited as a chief cause of purchase failure, causing more than 1 in 10 purchases to fail.
“This matches up with what our clients are telling us,” Tatiana continued. “The challenges our clients often face relate directly to lenders: inconsistent qualifying criteria, lengthy approval timelines, and outdated communication practices that rely on slow email exchanges.
“This can manifest as banks backing out of mortgage agreements last minute, giving vague excuses about risk and funds, and leaving buyers with unanswered questions.
“The reality is that law firms, including RSL LAW, are there to find solutions to those issues. While the legal process can be complex, it ultimately helps buyers and families to find homes.”
Specialising in complex and high-value property sales, RSL LAW frequently advises clients whose transactions are threatened by last-minute lender decisions or queries about source of funds.
The firm prioritises regular and tailored communication with clients – another key issue raised in Santander’s report. 23% of those surveyed said their solicitor was hard to contact during the buying process.
“Law firms on the whole need to be better at talking to their clients, and we are proud to be client-centric in our approach” Tatiana concluded. “Buying a home can be extremely stressful, and we owe it to consumers to make that process as simple as possible.”
A September report commissioned by Santander, Fixing the Broken Chain, claims the length and complexity of purchasing a home is having a “profound impact” on consumers and the economy, with half a million failed transactions each year.
However, Pall Mall firm RSL LAW says the bank’s own figures reveal that mortgages, not legal issues, are the main obstacle to completion.
Of 2,363 buyers surveyed in the report, less than half (41%) said getting a mortgage offer was easy, while fewer respondents found the legal process difficult.
Tatiana Sharposhnikova, founder and CEO of RSL LAW, said: “It is clear from the data that buying a home is too difficult for many, and this needs to change.
“However, our own experiences show that it is lenders, not solicitors, who are creating unnecessary issues for buyers by making it harder to access finance.
“Santander can dress up their figures how they like, but banks must sit up and take notice of what their own customers are saying.”
Among the report’s other findings, being unable to agree on mortgage terms with a lender was cited as a chief cause of purchase failure, causing more than 1 in 10 purchases to fail.
“This matches up with what our clients are telling us,” Tatiana continued. “The challenges our clients often face relate directly to lenders: inconsistent qualifying criteria, lengthy approval timelines, and outdated communication practices that rely on slow email exchanges.
“This can manifest as banks backing out of mortgage agreements last minute, giving vague excuses about risk and funds, and leaving buyers with unanswered questions.
“The reality is that law firms, including RSL LAW, are there to find solutions to those issues. While the legal process can be complex, it ultimately helps buyers and families to find homes.”
Specialising in complex and high-value property sales, RSL LAW frequently advises clients whose transactions are threatened by last-minute lender decisions or queries about source of funds.
The firm prioritises regular and tailored communication with clients – another key issue raised in Santander’s report. 23% of those surveyed said their solicitor was hard to contact during the buying process.
“Law firms on the whole need to be better at talking to their clients, and we are proud to be client-centric in our approach” Tatiana concluded. “Buying a home can be extremely stressful, and we owe it to consumers to make that process as simple as possible.”
-END-
About RSL LAW:
- Established in 2012
- Based at 78 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5ES
- Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
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