HM Land Registry has said it is working towards the linking of electronic signatures and digital identities within the same tools.
It has said this is part of its ongoing work on the former and could lead to the use of certified identities that are compliant with its own and anti-money laundering standards.
This follows its launch of a digital identity standard in 2021, followed last year by a dedicated practice guide on the use of electronic signatures in conveyancing, and its beginning of a pilot project on qualified electronic signatures (QESs).
Product owner Michael Abraham said in a blogpost that a new tool linking the two could be used by conveyancers and clients, saving them from having to use different apps for identity checking and electronic signatures.
Trusted and reusable
“We’re starting to see glimpses of enhancements linking digital identity verification and electronic signatures within the same tools, and it’s really encouraging,” he said. “This is expected to lead towards the neat packaging of a certified provider, offering a trusted and reusable identity, held on a device in a digital wallet with QES signing functionality – all for a reasonable cost.”
He added that they could be re-used and deliver the ability to sign documents using a very secure digital signature without the need for witnessing.
“And then? We hope we can move away from electronic documents and towards the signing of data that can be read and validated instantly by HM Land Registry and other parties such as conveyancers,” he added.
