The Conveyancing Association, the trade body for the conveyancing industry, has used itsannualconference to urge member firms to be prepared for significant technological changes in the future.
The Conveyancing Association, the trade body for the conveyancing industry, has used itsannualconference to urge member firms to be prepared for significant technological changes in the future.
Theconference, which had the theme ‘Embracing the Digital Future’, was held on the 6 December at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, and brought together over 200 industry stakeholders.
Paul Smee, non-executive chair of the Conveyancing Association, said: “At what was a highly-informative day of presentations, it should have been painfully clear to all those who attended, that the conveyancing market is going to alter significantly over the course of the next few years.
“Firms can either embrace that change, and be the architects of their own future, or be overtaken by it.
“It was therefore pleasing to see a distinct lack of complacency from our member firms – we know there are a large number of PropTech companies eyeing up the sector and seeking to develop the tech that might seek to remove firms from the process, but there are also opportunities here which could see our members leading the way and being the ‘disruptors’ in their own marketplace.”
The CA’s operations director, Lloyd Davies, and Paul Smee, urged members to embrace the technology-based opportunities that can make the conveyancing process quicker for all stakeholders. This includes the development of apropertylogbook, the use of digital signatures, and proof of clients’ ID including biometric data.
Davies and Beth Rudolf, the CA’s director of delivery, also outlined the role that the CA is playing in a number of forward-thinking groups including the Conveyancing Task Force, the Home Buying & Selling Group (HSBG), and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on leasehold reform, amongst others.
The CA provided attendees with an update on its ongoing work, particularly its membership of the HBSG which runs a number of work streams in key areas.These include the upfront provision of information, the customer experience, leasehold, reservation agreements, and education issues from a consumer perspective.
Smee added: “In a number of key areas, we are leading the way, and with thisconference we wanted to outline the changes firms can make which can, not just ensure their survival, but allow them to thrive in this marketplace.
“There is significant government and industry support for some of our proposed solutions, including apropertylogbook, the upfront provision of information to clients, and in areas like leasehold.”
Theconference outlined a number of potentialdigitalthreats, including the launch of various PropTech propositions focused on disrupting the conveyancing process.
Matt Prior of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government(HSBG),provided members with an update on its continuing work, told firms to be prepared for change, and outlined thegovernment’s thinking in a number of key areas.
Prior outlined how there was “no silver bullet” to fix the conveyancing process but suggested it was broadly supportive of a number of changes including one process for ID verification, digital signatures, the use ofpropertylogbooks, and reservation agreements.
In a series of presentations, delegates also heard from the Law Commission’sprofessor Nick Hopkins, all those heading the HSBG work streams, Scott Bozinis from Conference Sponsor’s InfoTrack, andguestspeaker – the motivational guru, Jim Lawless.
Smee added: “We will continue to champion those, to work with members and stakeholders to trial these solutions, and to introduce measures which seek to speed up the process and ensure a much better experience for the consumer.
“We welcome the approach of the policy makers in consulting with industry via the HBSG to gain the best outcomes for the consumer. This puts us in very good stead to support members and help them embrace these changes and to ensure they have a positive impact on their businesses and their processes.
“It has undoubtedly been a very positive year for the CA and we are in a very strong position to continue to deliver for our member firms, and stakeholders, during what is likely to be a very ‘interesting’ 2019.”
