A new Best Practice Charter has been published with guidance for solicitors and estate agents working in the area of conveyancing.
The Government-issued charter sets out key principles of best practice for estate agents and solicitors relating to conveyancing. It covers three key areas:
- Advice to seller clients
- Expediency/efficiency/avoidance of unnecessary delays
- Accountability
The document follows on from the work of an Expert Group on Conveyancing and Probate, convened by the Taoiseach in December 2023 and charged with reviewing conveyancing from a user perspective and recommending changes to reduce delays and/or costs.
A key finding of this Expert Group was that there should be a national target/expectation of a maximum of eight weeks to complete a conveyancing process from acceptance of an offer to closure of the sale.
The Expert Group’s report made recommendations to achieve this target, including the production of a charter as a clear statement of best practice for estate agents and solicitors working together in conveyancing. Its recommendations were submitted and approved by Government in July 2024.
The LSRA was part of a subsequent Implementation Group established in September 2024 to take forward the recommendations in the Expert Group report.
The Expert Group and Implementation Group were chaired by Dr Conan McKenna.
Best Practice Charter for Solicitors and Estate Agents in Conveyancing
The Best Practice Charter was developed based on evidence before the Expert Group, which demonstrated a need for a focused guide for professionals working together in a conveyance, for the benefit of clients and for the efficiency of the process.
The Charter is not itself a regulatory document or Code of Practice and not legally binding on solicitors or estate agents.
The Best Practice Charter is available at the link below:
For further information see: Conveyancing and probate – Taoiseach welcomes progress towards 8-week target for buyers
ENDS