£89k costs for two conveyancers struck off for serious misconduct
Summary
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck two solicitors off the roll and ordered them to pay combined costs of £89,000 after finding serious misconduct in conveyancing-related matters. The cases involved breaches of client account rules, misuse of client money, and conduct that caused significant financial harm to clients and to the profession’s compensation arrangements.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors regularly work alongside conveyancers and may encounter transactions where client money handling, title transfer, and completion processes are critical. The case underlines the risks to consumers when conveyancing controls fail, particularly in property investment and residential purchase scenarios involving vulnerable clients.
Key points
- Two solicitors were struck off following findings of serious misconduct in conveyancing transactions.
- The tribunal found multiple breaches of client account rules and misuse of client money.
- One case involved shortages of client funds and claims on the SRA compensation fund.
- Another involved vulnerable buyers who believed they had purchased a residential property, but title was not transferred as expected.
- The tribunal highlighted the high regulatory sensitivity of conveyancing because of its handling of client money.
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