A number of leading organisations in the conveyancing profession have agreed to work together as The Conveyancing Task Force to discuss, and where possible agree, on reform and enhancement of the conveyancing process for the benefit of consumers and lawyers alike.
The formation of the Conveyancing Task Force which comprises The Law Society, The Society of Licensed Conveyancers, The Conveyancing Association, CILEx and the Bold Legal Group has taken nearly two years and formal Terms of Reference for the Group have been agreed which provide the basis for working constructively together.
As an example of the value that the Conveyancing Task Force can deliver, all members of the Group have recently released three documents to their members relating to the current extraordinary circumstances of the Covid pandemic and the impending expiry of the SDLT ‘holiday’ at the end of March. These documents provide clarity and a consistent approach for conveyancers and their clients in these very unusual times, and in particular in the event that matters do not complete in time to benefit from the SDLT ‘holiday’.
Simon Law, Society of Licensed Conveyancers Chairperson and newly appointed Conveyancing Task Force Chair commented:
“These are challenging times for the conveyancing profession, with the ongoing effects of Covid and an increasing move to working electronically. Conveyancing Task Force members have worked well together within the conveyancing profession for many years and it makes eminent sense that all five organisations come together under the Conveyancing Task Force banner to help the profession manage the transition into the digital future and identify opportunities for improving the process. Whilst working together to formulate and agree proposals, new procedures and due diligence under our agreed Terms of Reference, Task Force members still remain independent and accountable to their respective organisations and memberships.
“We look forward to working constructively with all other parties involved in the home buying and selling process and in particular the Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) in which all Conveyancing Task Force members currently participate.
Additional information will be available on a new Conveyancing Task Force website, due to be launched in the spring.
About The Conveyancing Task Force
The leading professional legal organisations in the conveyancing industry have agreed to work together as The Conveyancing Task Force to formulate and agree best conveyancing practice and to lead the changes required to facilitate the fast approaching digital future of conveyancing.
Terms of Reference, which form the operating structure for initiatives and Workstreams, have been agreed between Conveyancing Task Force members – The Law Society, The Society of Licensed Conveyancers, The Conveyancing Association, CILEX and the Bold Legal Group. Whilst working together to formulate and agree proposals, procedures and due diligence under agreed Terms of Reference, Task Force members still remain independent and accountable to their respective organisations. The Task Force will be working with Regulators and industry stakeholders, such as the Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG), to champion best practice and consumer friendly conveyancing.
The Task Force have agreed a set of conveyancing Workstreams which will be the focus to define the future digital conveyancing blueprint.
The workstreams include, but are not limited to, the following key aspect of the conveyancing process:
- Proof of Identity
- Universal Protocols
- Buyers and Sellers Property Information Forms
- Codes of Practice
- Electronic Signatures
- Lenders Handbook Requirement and Review
- Property Log Books
- Fraud Prevention Protocols
- Property Search Review
- Vendor Disclosure
- Client Communication enhancements and guidance.
Additional information will be available on the CTF website, due to be launched in the spring.
For further information please contact the Secretariat team. Email: info@conveyancingtaskforce.co.uk Call: 01633 261758
Commenting on the formation of the task force, David Greene, Law Society of England and Wales, said:
“The combination of the stamp duty land tax holiday and working from home has put conveyancing and those who practise it under enormous strain and we do not know what will happen in the market once the concession ends on 31 March.
“We do know that the pandemic and the need for social distancing has accelerated the appetite for using digital solutions in parts of the transaction process, particularly for ID and execution and electronic and/or digital signing.
“Institutional members of what is now the Conveyancing Task Force have been working informally together for some time where there are areas of shared interest to help consumers and practitioners both in the pandemic and for the future.
“The new arrangements for the Task Force will help formalise joint working to enable co-operation to take place effectively without compromising the independence of each organisation.
“Chains of transactions mean that it is obviously helpful for all parties to be working in a similar fashion as we move forward into the digital future.
“We look forward to continuing to work constructively with other members of the Task Force and inputting our views to the Home Buying and Selling Group.”
