The Conveyancing Association has urged the Government to ensure planned reforms to freehold estates and private management arrangements do not add further delay and cost to property transactions.
The trade body has submitted formal responses to two consultations covering stronger protections for homeowners on freehold estates and proposals to reduce the use of private estate management structures, both of which are seen as a growing source of friction in the home-buying process.
The consultations form part of wider efforts to improve transparency, reduce disputes and speed up transactions, particularly where estate charges, rentcharges and management company information can complicate lending decisions and hold up completions.
In its submission, the Conveyancing Association backed the removal of outdated enforcement remedies linked to rentcharges, arguing these can distort lending decisions and introduce unnecessary risk for buyers and lenders.
CLEARER RULES
The organisation also called for clearer rules on estate management charges, including standardised notices, better annual reporting, full disclosure of referral fees and commissions, and easier digital access to key information to reduce administrative delays.
Concerns were also raised about the time it takes to obtain management packs, the cost of information from estate management companies and the need to ensure any new rules work alongside existing conveyancing processes rather than creating further obstacles.
The Association said private estate management arrangements in particular can slow transactions and create uncertainty, and has called for nationally consistent standards, clearer adoption rules for shared amenities, capped fees and greater accountability for estate managers.
COST AND CONFUSION
Beth Rudolf, Director of Delivery at The Conveyancing Association, says: “Both these consultations go to the heart of issues that conveyancers deal with every day.
“The complexity of freehold estates and private management arrangements can create delay, cost and confusion for buyers, and risk concerns for lenders, often because of poor transparency and a lack of consistent standards.
“Our responses support the direction of travel, particularly where it improves transparency and accountability, but they also make clear reform must work in practice.
“That means clear, standardised information, realistic timeframes, and proper alignment with the conveyancing process so transactions are not put at risk.”
BETTER ACCESS
And she adds: “We also need to address the root causes, including delays in obtaining information, the lack of obligation on third parties to respond, and the need for better digital access to property data.
“If these are tackled properly, we can remove a significant amount of friction from the home moving process and deliver better outcomes for both consumers and firms.”
