E-conveyancing coalition aims for upfront information

A new coalition of legal, government and business groups attempting to make “e-conveyancing” a reality want to achieve the goal of upfront information, conveyancers have heard today.

The aim was revealed by Land Registry deputy chief executive Mike Harlow at the Digital Property Market Steering Group’s first major conference today.

Jonathan Clifton, housing deputy director at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, told the conference that the government is identifying what the vision for better property information system looks like and that civil servants are working closely with the Home Buying and Selling Group to identify key information that needs to be made upfront.

Solicitor Sarah Dwight, a member of the Law Society’s conveyancing and land law committee, described upfront information as “the way forward”.

Sarah said:

“Anyone can buy a property but not everyone can sell a property.

“Upfront information is vital.”

However, property specialists at a breakout session revealed concerns about the phrase “upfront information”.

One attendee said the phrase appeared to be used as a “cover-all” for different steps in the home buying and selling process, pointing out that there are four or five blocks of data that become relevant through the process.

Another attendee said different parties will be interested in different pieces of information. A lender, for instance, will want to know how long is left on the lease. However, a buyer will want to know if a broken window was replaced by a professional glazer.

Who the upfront information is aimed at and who sets the rules will need to be addressed, the conference heard.

Kindly shared by The Law Society Gazette