CoPSO seeks to manage and minimise disruption for search provision

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), the trade body for the property search industry, has called for co-operation between local authorities and search companies to minimise disruption caused by Covid-19.

Searches are a crucial element of moving home, and so to try and minimise disruption, we are aiming to work with authorities to manage expectations and minimise unnecessary travel and visits to local councils. CoPSO has asked for early warning in respect of any constraints that coronavirus may have on local authorities in the delivery of searches, so that the information can be disseminated to its’ members, lawyers, home movers and agents, in order to provide realistic timeframes for the delivery of searches on an area by area basis.  James Sherwood-Rogers, CoPSO Chairman said ‘with over 80% of the searches in the UK being ordered through one of our members, we think it makes sense to work together with the public sector in a constructive and positive way to help homebuyers and their lawyers progress transactions as efficiently as possible.

We all know the challenges faced by everyone in the property sector right now. By creating an information sharing arrangement with local authorities our members can help by managing expectations, and, for example, ensure that urgent transactions get prioritised.

CoPSO is also working with HM Land Registry, and other stakeholders, to see what else can be done to minimise current health risks in the provision of data and searches. This includes, wherever possible, council’s providing information by email rather than requiring information to be collected in person, in order to reduce unnecessary human interaction and travel.

Kindly shared by Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO)