A consultation on proposed updates to the National Conveyancing Protocol has been announced at the annual Law Society Property Conference hosted at Chancery Lane.
The Conveyancing Protocol is the Law Society of England and Wales’ framework for good practice in residential conveyancing. All Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)-accredited firms must follow the protocol.
Announcing the consultation the Law Society explained the National Conveyancing Protocol hasn’t been updated for seven years. A 40-page draft version of the document went live on the Law Society website during the morning’s sessions.
Nick Denys, head of private and commercial law at the Law Society, speaking at the conference in London, said: “Now is the right time to update the [National Conveyancing Protocol] because a lot has happened since 2019. So please take a look at it, get involved and let us know what you think.”
“The Conveyancing Protocol, as I’m sure everyone knows, is about standardising the residential conveyancing process so both sides of the transaction are within the same framework. It makes the framework run better. It makes conveyancing more transparent and efficient and hopefully improves the experience for solicitors, lenders and clients.”
The changes reflected in the updated protocol include the increased use of digital processes, greater adoption of online platforms and document sharing, HM Land Registry’s continuing digital transformation, evolving lender requirements and reporting systems, greater focus on consumer transparency, increased awareness of cybercrime and fraud risks, developments in leasehold and commonhold, and the government’s planned reforms of the home buying and selling process.
Denys continued: “I’ve been asked to warn everybody that the document is about 40 pages long, but that is only because we’ve branded it and designed it in a way that is easy to search. It’s actually not technically longer than the last document. So if you look at it and think ‘Oh dear, how has it increased in size?’ it actually hasn’t.”
“The design of the document should be better and easier to read, but we ask a number of questions about it. We’re interested in any feedback you have about what is or isn’t in it. So please get involved. You don’t have to answer all the questions, but tell us about one or two burning things. We’ll take that information away and hopefully create a really good protocol.”
The consultation closing date is Thursday 14th January 2027.
One Response
More policing and enforcing would help.