What is Direct Conveyancing?

The carrying out of residential conveyancing in volume as a discrete legal service, carried out by people who are carefully selected, trained, managed and motivated, aided by the best of technology and communicating with the customer by whichever means they prefer, but increasingly electronically. Direct Conveyancer's operate without requiring the customer to attend on them or visa versa.

Who are The Direct Conveyancing Association?

An Association of solicitors and licensed conveyancers who meet the criteria for membership as established Direct Conveyancers. The Association is non-profit making, and its objectives are the improvement of the experience for the home moving public, to take a fresh and innovative approach to that process, to drive forward opportunities to raise standards and to co-operate with all others involved in the pursuit of those objectives

What are the criteria for membership?

1. Members must demonstrate that they operate on a direct basis which means that either entirely or almost entirely the services must be offered by telephone, the post and or the internet rather than by having offices which are visited by member of the public in order to progress the transaction.
2. Members must demonstrate that they have computer systems that are able to handle volume conveyancing work and are in addition working on a team basis (i.e. not in the traditional conveyancer plus secretary mould).
3. Members must demonstrate that they have not less than 50 people employed in their direct conveyancing operation.
4. Members must demonstrate that they have extended opening hours outside of 9.00am to 5.00pm on usual working days. They should also operate 7 day per week.
5. No part of the member's activities may be permitted to bring the association and its members into disrepute or into potential breach of legal requirements.
6. Members must be able to demonstrate to an independent auditor's satisfaction that they are capable of managing effectively and reliably: - (1) peaks and troughs in capacity and (2) case tracking and reporting electronically.
7. Members must be able to demonstrate adequate training standards and facilities.
8. Members should be willing to submit to an independent audit to ascertain that they continue to meet the criteria on an ongoing basis. They must pay on demand in advance of any audit the fee prescribed by the committee or the Association in respect of that audit. Failure to pay such fee within such period, as the Committee shall stipulate shall be grounds for suspension or expulsion.
9. Such other or further criteria as the Association considers appropriate having regard to the jurisdiction in which the relevant member operates.
10. Such other criteria the Association from time to time decides

Associate Membership is available at the discretion of the Association.

What differentiates Direct Conveyancers?

1. Fixed fees and no fees if no completion
2. Dedicated specialist case handlers
3. Extended opening hours
4. Technology benefits such as website case updates
5. Speedier completions
6. A willingness to work pro-actively not only with the customer but other advisors and professionals involved in the process.
7. They are able to better provide the service appropriate to e-conveyancing and 21st century customer expectations

What do Direct Conveyancers believe?

1. Whilst information technology is an essential tool, conveyancing is very much a person to person business
2. Residential Conveyancing is best carried out by those who are exclusively focused on and available to do the work
3. Home Information Packs can make a difference and we seek to play full part in their successful implementation.
4. e-conveyancing will be the enabler of further industry improvement.

What are the practical examples of how the Direct Conveyancing Association is contributing to the improvement of the process?

1. The Association is an Executive Member of PISCES and one of our member representatives is Chairman of its Residential Working Group.
2. We have representation on the strategic Land Registry e-conveyancing Business User Group, which helps guide the Land Registry in the development of e-conveyancing.
3. We participate in all relevant government consultations e.g. as the one on Home Information Packs
4. Our surveys show that we meet customer expectations.
5. We have assisted the Inland Revenue in connection with the introduction of Stamp Duty Land Tax

Who are members of the DCA?

Membership is varied in that there are international, national and regional local firms spread across every region in the UK including Scotland and Northern Ireland. We have a unified commitment to the ethos of Direct Conveyancing and particularly to making the home movers experience better.

See the membership list

Click here for a the full Memorandum & Articles of the Association