Members of the Conveyancing Association (CA) have set out several measures for member firms to adopt during the coronavirus crisis.

The trade body for the conveyancing industry suggested the changes, which followed feedback from CA member firms and lease administrators, are in order to keep lease administrators up to date on assignments, ensure prompt payments, and provide support for lease administrator who may be working from home and unable to access physical documents.

The best practice measures will urge conveyancers to always send documents by email rather than post, and for all lease administrators to provide email contacts and accept emailed documents.

The CA suggested many lease administrators are already publishing guidance and online contact details for conveyancers, as well as to their customers on standard documents such as rent and service charge demands, and that conveyancers should use these to avoid posting documents. 

The measures are also calling on conveyancers to ensure all payments are sent electronically and for lease administrators to provide bank details or other payment facilities to conveyancers – to avoid cheques being issued.

The CA said that both conveyancers and lease administrators are also calling on HM Land Registry to help the industry during the pandemic by relaxing their rules on accepting deeds with e-signatures. In the current crisis, they argued that physical execution of deeds could be burdensome and time-consuming.

Conveyancing Association director of delivery, Beth Rudolf, commented: “Clearly, this is a difficult time for all conveyancing stakeholders as we seek to keep the process moving and therefore, following member feedback, we hope that these practical steps if adopted by lease administrators will make things easier for all concerned.

“The third measure is a shift, however, we believe that this will help maintain an up-to-date register at HM Land Registry.”

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