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Conveyancing Quality Scheme Update – Advice on Leasehold Property

New Core Practice Management Standards (CPMS) for Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)accredited firms came into effect on 1 May 2022.   

We have reviewed and enhanced our Intelliworks conveyancing workflows to reflect the key changes in these new Standards. 

In particular, we have implemented updates to our Purchase and New Build Purchase workflows to address new CPMS Requirement 5.16, which set out increased client reporting obligations for firms dealing with leasehold transactions. This update more widely responds to the continued focus on leasehold issues across the property industry. The new CPMS require that clients should be provided with “clear and accessible written information [which] should be set out at the earliest possible opportunity in a single document”: 

To help our users meet the new requirements, we have added a new, combined Leasehold Property Summary Report to our relevant conveyancing workflows, which can be used in place of the existing Leasehold Property Summary Information document and Leasehold and Freehold Property Ownership Memorandum.  This update will allow users to efficiently meet their obligations to advise the client clearly, in writing.   

The Leasehold and Freehold Property Ownership Memorandum will continue to be available as a standalone document accessible from the Unscheduled Task List, as required.  

To assist our users in addressing and complying with this enhanced CPMS requirement, we have integrated user prompts to query whether the new Report should be generated when sending the existing Letter to Client – Confirm Contract Receipt. For completeness, links to the new Report have also been added to the Contract Documents Received process, so that our users always review the issue at relevant points of the transaction.  

 

Intelliworks case management software has been designed to reflect the spirit of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme and the high standards it sets out. Our specialist legal workflows are based on conveyancing good practice and the principles of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Protocol, which, whilst mandatory only for CQSaccredited firms, is commonly recognised and adopted by the wider conveyancing profession.  

Full details of all updates included within the release can be found in the ‘Workflow Release Notes’ section within the Intelliworks case, or by clicking on this link: CQS Workflow Updates 

For more information, please contact your Account Manager or call us on 03300 366700.  

To read the next blog in this series, please click here.

 

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