New lawyers action group queries material information rules

A new action group has been formed that is expressing concern about ineffective legal regulation as well as extra responsibilities being imposed on conveyancers such as material information rules.

Solicitor Stephen Larcombe has setup The Property Lawyers Action Group, which claims a lack of leadership among the Law Society and Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) has created a system of “semi-broken regulation” that is “suffocating lawyers’ ability to practise law.”

The group, which doesn’t name its members, describes itself as a “values-driven organisation comprised of practising lawyers, committed to promoting the best interests and well-being of lawyers, and property lawyers in particular, and influencing decisions which affect the legal property sector generally.”

Its charter lists several issues in the legal services sector that overlap with estate agency such as the prevalence and lack of regulation of referral fees and the influence of search and proptech firms in the sector.

The charter also addresses upfront information regulations.

It said: “We are concerned by Trading Standards imposing material information on the property sector without sufficient consultation and we are concerned that this will escalate into mandatory use of upfront Information which will replicate the many failures of Home Information Packs.”

The group said it will aim to encourage all conveyancers to adopt and maintain high standards of legal practice and professionalism, “despite the tremendous pressures being placed upon us from various sources."