Representatives from all sectors of the Home Moving Industry heard calls for the Government to listen carefully to the views of the professions when implementing HIPS.
In what was the first such gathering of the direct conveyancing profession, the dinner, hosted by The Direct Conveyancing Association, brought together key decision makers including lenders, estate agents, surveyors, and brokers.
David Duckworth, chairman of the DCA told the audience of over 100 that the Association had been formed to work in partnership with other stakeholders in the moving industry to improve the consumers experience of conveyancing. The Association now represented many of the leading conveyancing firms in the UK who were working hard to transform conveyancing from a cottage industry to a consumer focused industry that responded positively to change and embraced the latest technology to deliver value for the home buying public
His sentiments were echoed by the evening guest speaker Michael Portillo who identified HIP’s electronic conveyancing and the Clementi reforms all as representing fundamental change for the legal profession
"Too often in the past our members have felt that the voice of conveyancers hadn't been clearly expressed to Government. Our view is that the profession must contribute to the change debate and help shape future legislation. We must not sit silent on the sidelines. We have a duty to speak for the consumer and ensure that the reforms such as HIPs actually do make for a better system of house transfer rather than merely adding to the red tape and regulation "said Duckworth. "We are really heartened that so many fellow professionals share our views and support us in what we, as an association, are seeking to do.”
