The Society is seeking input from its solicitor members and the wider residential conveyancing sector to improve the conveyancing process for buyers, sellers and mortgage lenders by amending the contents of its TA6 Property Information Form and TA10 Fittings and Contents Form.
‘Making enquiries about a property you want to buy is important and sometimes the only person who has the information you want is the seller. Often people selling a property are also people buying a property so having the most efficient and effective forms should help transactions run smoothly which is in everyone’s interests,’ said Jonathan Smithers, chair of the Conveyancing and Land Law Committee at the Law Society.
‘The Law Society is aiming to strike a balance between the interests of buyers and sellers. The provision of information at an early stage can enable consumers to make better informed decisions,’ he added.
The forms are used by members of the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) which is made up of solicitors who have undergone a rigorous assessment to become scheme members.
The CQS allows consumers to identify quality conveyancing practices in a crowded and sometimes confusing market and highlights the professional excellence and their commitment to providing high standards.
The first form asks questions about the property being sold. It includes questions about boundaries, planning consents and building regulation control, boundaries, disputes with neighbours etc. The second form is the one used to indicate whether items in the home are included or excluded from the sale.
If they are included in the sale the form asks whether the seller is including items in the price agreed or whether there is an additional price to be paid for these items.
