At our first Conveyancing Improvement Collective (CIC) roadshow in Solihull in September, 13 action points were raised which, if adopted, could help improve the home buying and selling process.
At our next meeting in Leeds on the evening of the 25th November, we hope to build on those discussions, with the same issues being explored and perhaps more being added. Whatever the final number, our intention is to hold further roadshows in the first half of the New Year to agree how these issues should be addressed, when action should be taken, and who needs to take responsibility.
One recurring concern is the relentless mission creep that conveyancers have experienced for decades. If we needed another reminder, new Land Registry rules taking effect on 6 April 2027 are set to change how property transactions are reported, potentially bringing additional checks and paperwork for conveyancers handling affected transactions.
Will it ever end?
In recent times, we have seen groups emerge to tackle individual issues, including:
- The TA6 issue.
- The COLP/COFA issue.
- The client account interest issue.
It is encouraging to see people prepared to stand up and challenge these developments. But there is a bigger problem. We are repeatedly fighting one fire at a time, relying on new firefighters to appear whenever another breaks out.
Even if we win each individual battle, we risk losing the war. We cannot continue reacting to every new demand in isolation. We need a united, sustained effort to challenge the underlying causes of mission creep, unnecessary burdens and the steady erosion of the conveyancer’s role.
That is why the Conveyancing Improvement Collective exists: to bring the profession together, listen to those working on the front line, identify practical solutions and press for meaningful change.
Now is the time to get involved
I urge conveyancers and others who care about the future of the profession to get behind the CIC.
Membership is free. You have nothing to lose by joining, and potentially a great deal to gain by standing alongside colleagues who share your concerns and want to do something about them.
Please don’t leave it to others to fight your corner. Join the CIC today and help us build a collective voice that cannot so easily be ignored.
And if you can join us in Leeds on 25th November, we would particularly welcome your contribution. Please email info@improveconveyancing.org to register your interest.
Individually, we can raise concerns. Together, we have a much better chance of bringing about change.
About the author
Rob Hailstone is founder of Bold Legal Group, which serves as a help, advice, information and support network for conveyancers. Formerly a residential conveyancer for over 30 years, his specialities include residential conveyancing, LSA, ABS, OFR, CQS, PII, lender panels, chancel repair and overriding interests and unilateral notices.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of Today’s Conveyancer.
