Guide on conveyancing best practice published
The Government has published a that provides guidance on improving efficiency in the conveyancing process.
The charter is a statement of best practice for estate agents and solicitors working together in conveyancing.
It sets out some key principles of conveyancing best practice in three key areas:
- Advice to seller clients,
- Expediency, efficiency, and the avoidance of unnecessary delays, and
- Accountability.
Eight-week target
The document was among the recommendations made by an expert group on conveyancing and probate set up in December 2023 to review the conveyancing process from a user perspective and to recommend changes to reduce delays and costs.
A key recommendation from the expert group was to set a national target of eight weeks to complete a conveyancing process, from acceptance of an offer to closure of the sale.
The Law Society is a member of the implementation group established in September 2024 after the expert group’s report.
Collaboration
The charter was developed in response to evidence presented to the expert group that highlighted the need for clear guidance to support collaboration between solicitors and estate agents working together in conveyancing transactions, for the benefit of clients and for the efficiency of the process.
The Law Society points out that it is not a regulatory document or code of practice and is not legally binding on solicitors or estate agents.
“Whilst solicitors are regulated and must always act in accordance with the law and regulatory requirements, they are also subject to the instructions of their clients – including confidentiality norms which continue to apply,” the Law Society states, adding that the charter should be read with this in mind.