What is a Qualified Electronic Signature in the UK mortgage process?

A Qualified Electronic Signature is a digital signature tied to a verified identity and protected by cryptographic certificates. It creates a tamper-evident document and a full audit trail. With HM Land Registry accepting QES for deeds, lenders and conveyancers can process signings online while maintaining strong identity assurance and legal validity for registration.

How will digital mortgage deeds change completion times?

Digital mortgage deeds remove postage, witnessing, and paper errors. Borrowers can sign on a secure device after identity checks, and lenders receive instant confirmation. With the land registry accepting QES, submissions move sooner to registration. The result should be faster completions, fewer rework loops, and better coordination across chains, especially during busy remortgage periods.

Are QES-signed deeds as valid as wet-ink signatures?

QES-signed deeds carry strong legal assurance because the signature is bound to a verified identity and the document’s content. The cryptographic certificate and time stamp create a verifiable record. Since the land registry accepts QES for deeds, lenders and conveyancers can rely on the process for registration in England and Wales, subject to standard checks.

Who can use Nationwide’s digital mortgage deed signing today?

Nationwide has enabled QES for eligible customers and cases within its mortgage journeys. Availability may depend on product type, conveyancer readiness, and identity verification outcomes. As more conveyancers integrate and processes mature, coverage should expand. Borrowers will be told during their application if their case qualifies for digital signing with a Qualified Electronic Signature.

What risks remain with digital mortgage deeds?

Key risks include identity check failures, device compatibility issues, and edge cases that still need paper routes. Lenders must maintain clear fallbacks and monitor fraud trends. The land registry’s framework reduces manipulation risk, but firms should track incident rates, vendor performance, and user support to ensure digital processes stay reliable at scale.

Global Market Insights

February 12: Land Registry Backs QES as Nationwide Digitises Mortgage Deeds

ByHuzaifa Zahoor February 12, 2026February 12, 2026

On 12 February 2026, HM Land Registry’s support for Qualified Electronic Signatures met real-world scale as Nationwide enabled digital mortgage deeds in a UK first. For investors, this matters: faster completions, lower fraud risk, and smoother remortgaging can improve housing transaction efficiency. We explore how land registry acceptance of QES works, why Nationwide mortgages set a template, and what this shift could mean for conveyancers, fintech providers, and the broader UK property market.