The Conveyancing Association has identified eight areas for improvement that members believe could improve the home moving experience, and one could see the return of a form of the Home Information Pack.
The trade body issued what it called a White Paper at the end of last year outlining areas of focus to create a more positive home moving experience for all.
Among the recommendations, the Association’s strategic plan, titled ‘Building the framework for the future’, backs an e-home report, and says it will first develop the forms and would then conduct a pilot with member firms.
It is more likely to take the form of a digital report rather than the old-style HIPs, which were last year ruled out by the Association’s director of delivery Beth Rudolf.
She said at the time: “We do not support the return of costly and cumbersome Home Information Packs. What we do support is the preparation of information for the sale of property in an electronic home report.
“This has been proven to reduce the timescales to exchange of contracts in England and Wales by estate agents and conveyancers who already work together in this way, as well as from research into other jurisdictions which shows that this is pivotal to the reduction of time and stress in the home-moving process.”
The report also calls for reforms to leaseholds, a centralised point for ID verification and for buyers and sellers to be able to follow the progress of the transaction.
The full eight recommendations are:
1. Enhanced ID verification: helping develop a reliable product that reduces verification instances but increases certainty.
2. E-Home reports – upfront provision of information: providing a comprehensive collection of information upfront prior to the property being marketed.
3. Reservation agreements: providing a standardised agreement to reduce uncertainty and create home mover choice.
4. Completion certainty: enabling completion monies to be sent the day before completion to make moving home easier for clients on the day of completion.
5. Leasehold reform: reducing the costs and delays associated with leasehold transactions, plus helping develop a redress scheme and support fair terms in new leases.
6. Lending process improvements: creating the ability for buyers to obtain a reliable decision-in-principle, plus reduce post-offer queries and improve communication with lenders.
7. Better search data provision: reducing costs and delays, plus creating a version of CON 29 relevant for lenders with optional borrower questions, and digitise relevant data.
8. A secure property portal: helping create a secure communications platform including a ‘Property Log Book’ for every property.
Rudolf said: “In a number of key areas, progress has already been made.
“I’m thinking particularly of leasehold reform where, thanks to the concerted efforts of stakeholders, the Government has committed to a review of leasehold tenure, and where we have already begun the process of developing greater consumer understanding via our consumer guide on leasehold administration fees which provides consumers with the information necessary to ask the right questions before viewing a property.
“There is clearly further work to be done, not least providing a form of redress, but in terms of this work stream we are already some way down the track.
“For others, there is clearly a lot more to be done, but this strategic plan provides an overall guide for us to follow and focuses us on the job ahead.”
9. Pick up the phone and speak to the other solicitor
10. Chase the other solicitor when enquiries have been raised rather than sit on butt waiting for them to be returned.
Whilst some of these seem like good ideas, it does appear that the person/group proposing this article are looking for other people to help them save time rather than look at their own internal way of doing things.
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Ha! You are absolutely right-what IS it with people who don’t chase deals? We really don’t understand it and we see it everyday.
My only comment about the above is the hilarious notion that HIPS were “cumbersome” and yet 4 out of the above were either addressed by HIPS or were improved as a consequence.
Fundamental problem is that these laudable ideals will never be implemented across the board so whilst the CA should be commended for writing these down, sadly with chains, it won’t help given that the majority of work is carried out by non CA members.
Why not just start with “stop lawyers dishonestly quoting fees at the beginning to win business, and hiding the necessities in their incredibly small print”.
And whilst they’re about it, please could they stop helping criminals defraud their clients with a totally laissez faire attitude to data security.
Just a thought.
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Yawn yawn yawn.How about working harder,answering the phone and treating us all with even a monicum of respect.
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,,this is what comes from having an active body protecting its members.(unlike estate agents) ..
99% of the work needs to be put into the service and admin levels at legal firms, not making it more difficult for sellers to move with red tape.
Tenants are allowed to pay no fees but the second you turn into a property owner the govt. treat you like a millionaire who needs to be taxed..
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I find it so ironic that the profession that did the most to kill HIPs, to protect their vested interests, is now the same legal profession that wants them back.
What is the point of a cheap version that does not contain searches – the most expensive, but also the most useful element ?
The CA should stick to being an expensive dining club for well heeled Conveyancers… it is what it does best.
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Having been anti HIPS at the time, times have changed changed and there is now a strong argument for full info up front, even if it requires the vendor paying a bit in advance of a sale. When I put my house onto the market, which will be soon (start queuing up now!) I shall be offering an exchange-ready pack (almost identical to an auction pack) but with the addition of a full building survey and two independent valuations. The buyer can take it or leave it!
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Introducing some of these proposals could give conveyancers more time to chase matters and pick up the phone.
The majority of conveyancers are not lazy (just very busy (too much red tape)), or particularly well heeled. Complete and utter misunderstanding of how they work and why they work like they do.
As you know Richard, I fought tooth and nail for an ‘exchange’ ready pack to be produced, back in the day. How have times changed for you to have changed your mind?
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Hi Rob. Yes. I have. Do give me a call sometime when you have a moment. (I won’t leave my number here, but you can get me at Woods!).
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