The Conveyancing Quality Scheme

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme was launched in January 2011. Since registration, Desmond Hudson Chief Executive of The Law Society said 978 firms have applied for the quality mark. Of those, 280 have been admitted so far. (These figures were obtained from the Law Society Media Office on June 17th 2011.)

A recognised quality standard

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices.  Achievement of membership will establish a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers) based upon: 

• The integrity of the Senior Responsible Officer and other key conveyancing staff.
• The firm's adherence to good practice management standards.
• Adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the scheme protocol.

The CQS is a scheme designed to give clients, vendors and lenders a recognisable kitemark for conveyancing firms. It is based on a new Law Society protocol which aims to achieve consistent standards across the board in order to speed up the conveyancing process and provide more certainty for buyers and sellers.

The scheme is being introduced to assure bodies like the Council of Mortgage Lenders that conveyancing firms have met strict quality criteria. With lenders looking to reduce the number of firms on their conveyancing panels, it is thought that many of them will now insist on CQS accreditation as a prerequisite for panel membership.

As for potential clients of conveyancing practices, the CQS offers a visual indication that they are dealing with a genuine conveyancing firm which has passed strict quality checks. In essence, the kitemark shows a client that a firm is as good as it says it is.

Why is it needed?

The conveyancing sector is a crowded market and to a regular member of the public can appear quite confusing. The CQS is an attempt to stamp out bogus/fraudulent firms and to raise quality levels throughout the sector. 

Allow consumers to identify quality conveyancing practices

Linda Lee, president of the Law Society, believes the CQS is needed because high quality conveyancing firms have never had the opportunity to be recognised for their efforts. She also states, “the CQS will give homebuyers an instantly recognisable kitemark, highlighting a firms professional excellence and their commitment to providing a high quality service”.

How does a conveyancing firm obtain the kitemark?

In order to be awarded the CQS, a firm must meet certain criteria in areas like competence, probity of staff, administrative processes and financial standing.

Accredited firms will be checked annually to ensure that they have maintained their standards and continued to follow the Law Society guidelines.

           

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