Chairmen's Committee - Approved Domestic Property Transactions Review Panel Minutes - 17 October 201

Present

Deputy R.D. Johnson , Chairman Deputy R.J. Renouf

Constable M.P.S. Le Troquer

Apologies

Deputy A.D. Lewis

Absent

In attendance

Mr S. O'Connor, Conveyancer, Collas Crill Mr M. Bougeard, Conveyancer, Appleby

Mr P. Deveau, Conveyancer, Binet Law

Mr D. Ferguson, Conveyancer, Carey Olsen Mrs J. Hales , Scrutiny Officer

Ref Back

Agenda matter

Action

Item 1 01.06.16

511/2/1

1. Domestic Property Transactions

The Panel welcomed Mr S. O'Connor, Conveyancer, Collas Crill, Mr M. Bougeard, Conveyancer, Appleby, Mr P. Deveau, Conveyancer, Binet Law and Mr D. Ferguson, Conveyancer, Carey Olsen to a meeting to discuss its review on Domestic Property Transactions.

Overall, all the conveyancers believed the system to be quick with no long periods of uncertainty. The Panel was informed that with close to 1500 transactions passing through Royal Court each year, there was always a danger of people being let down but it was extremely difficult to legislate for the small percentage to which this happened.

The Panel was given an update of the sub-committee due to be set up by the Law Society which would focus solely on conveyancing issues. The Panel was informed that 7 lawyers from different law firms had agreed to form this committee and were in the process of agreeing terms of reference.

The Panel was also informed that, at present, there is no recourse of action for those who have had a negative experience with the current system and a solution to assist the small percentage of those who feel let down would be helpful.

The Panel requested its draft report be updated with the information received from the Conveyancers and circulated for discussion. The Panel also requested a meeting with the Jersey Estate Agent Association be arranged.

JH