In March the Conveyancing Association (CA) brought members of the moving industry together to discuss how the home moving experience could be improved for customers.

The meeting included representatives from the legal profession, estate agency, removals, and more.

This latest initiative from the CA intends to tackle ongoing delays to the home buying process.  The ultimate aim of the session was to determine potential steps forward in those areas requiring the most immediate attention. Based on the results of a recent survey conducted by the CA – which asked conveyancers and estate agents to highlight how they believed the home-moving process could be improved – the roundtable session focussed on the following themes:

1. Chain expectations: a regular issue for 60% of respondents and an “absolute nightmare” for 18%;
2. Unrealistic client expectations: a regular issue for 54% of respondents;
3. Leasehold sales information: a regular issue for 51% of respondents and an “absolute nightmare” for 10%.

 

Potential solutions discussed, included:

• The need to ensure the necessary training and standards are in place to guarantee that the transaction chain is set up properly from the outset, minimising the possibility of problems arising further down the line;
• The need to educate and inform consumers, making sure that they fully understand the transactions process, including the likely time scales on these;
• The need for all parties involved in a transaction to work cooperatively;
• The need to tackle ongoing issues around the leasehold sale process, including the length of time it takes for the necessary information to be provided in order for a leasehold transaction to be progressed.

 

In an initial step towards addressing some of the issues discussed, the CA has published its Leasehold Transaction Guide which aims to provide conveyancers with an overview of the existing laws around leasehold transactions. The CA has also urged conveyancers to answer its Lender Engagement Survey as the Association looks to continue to work with industry to iron out the ongoing issues it currently faces.

“The round table event brought key figures in the property industry together to discuss what changes we can make to existing process in order to render the home moving experience a better one for all involved – not least our customers,” said Eddie Goldsmith, Chairman of the Conveyancing Association.   “Bringing representatives from across the industry – including conveyancers, estate agents and lenders –  together in one room to talk through the issues each faces, helped highlight the areas we absolutely need to be addressing.

 Eddie said that it was important for the industry to continue working together in this way to have any chance of success.  “This is something the CA has seen as incremental to the success of this campaign and we look forward to continuing to work with our industry counterparts to improve the experience of handling a transaction, from a professional point of view, and of buying or selling a home, from a consumer point of view.”