Conveyancing regulation body publishes findings on conditional selling
Summary
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has published an interim report on conditional selling, finding a lack of transparency in referral arrangements between estate agents and conveyancers. In a review of 12 solicitor practices, nearly half could not produce written agreements covering referral fees, prompting 19 recommendations on earlier disclosure, record keeping and monitoring.
Why it matters
Conditional selling can affect consumer choice and the transparency of transactions that surveyors encounter alongside estate agency and conveyancing processes. Surveyors should be aware of the issue because it sits within wider property-sector compliance and disclosure practices that may influence buyer behaviour and transaction risk.
Key points
- CLC reviewed 12 solicitor practices and found weak transparency around referral arrangements.
- Five practices could not show documents explaining how referrals worked for customers.
- CLC says referral arrangements can be legitimate if disclosed early and properly documented.
- Nineteen recommendations include clearer disclosure, stronger written agreements and better record keeping.
- TPO has separately warned that pressure to use a particular solicitor or broker breaches its code.
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