Five professional bodies have come together to form the Conveyancing Task Force to push for “reform and enhancement” of the property transfer process.

The new body comprises the Law Society, the Society of Licensed Conveyancers, the Conveyancing Association, CILEx and the Bold Legal Group who plan to improve “the conveyancing process for the benefit of consumers and lawyers alike”.

The task force says it has already released three documents to its members relating to working practices during the pandemic and the end of the stamp duty holiday at the end of March.

Conveyancing Task Force says: “These documents provide clarity and a consistent approach for conveyancers and their clients in these very unusual times, and in particular in the event that matters do not complete in time to benefit from the SDLT ‘holiday’.”

The body says it is the result of “nearly two years” of talks between the five existing organisations and its formal terms of reference for “have been agreed, which provide the basis for working constructively together”.

Society of Licensed Conveyancers chairperson and newly appointed Conveyancing Task Force chair Simon Law says: “These are challenging times for the conveyancing profession, with the ongoing effects of Covid and an increasing move to working electronically.

“Conveyancing Task Force members have worked well together within the conveyancing profession for many years and it makes eminent sense that all five organisations come together under the Conveyancing Task Force banner to help the profession manage the transition into the digital future and identify opportunities for improving the process.”

Law adds: “Whilst working together to formulate and agree proposals, new procedures and due diligence under our agreed terms of reference, Task Force members still remain independent and accountable to their respective organisations and memberships.”