Logbooks revolution begins as conveyancers adopt digital rules
RLBA bosses say first 15 conveyancers are now creating logbooks at completion with more due to join 'pioneering' scheme soon.
Fifteen conveyancers have begun using a new Digital Deed Pack specification that will enable them to create logbooks for each property sales they deal with at the point of completion.
Organised and promoted by the Residential Logbook Association (RLBA), the pack enables integration between logbook systems and the case management platforms run by conveyancers, who are the second and larger cohort of legal firms to get involved.
At the coalface this means the conveyancers involved, as well as the many others who are due to join the scheme, will provide their clients with RLBA-verified logbooks at the completion stage of the conveyancing process and then list them on the RLBA register.
The trade group describes the development as pioneering because it enables both data and documents to be passed into the logbooks as they are created.
The new Digital Deed Pack specification is a refinement of the packs being used by this first cohort of conveyancers and is intended to standardise the process across RLBA Logbook providers.
It consists of a data schema and a schedule of documents that has been created from research with both conveyancers from the initial pioneering group and their users who have recently completed a transaction.
BASPI
The data schema in the specification contains a full property ID and many of the fields contained in the BASPI.
“Using the data created during conveyancing to create a logbook completes the circle promised by Upfront Information. It answers the question “what happens to the data at the end of the transaction?” says Simon Lumb, RLBA Treasurer and Managing Director of Logbook company NDD.
The schedule of documents in the specification includes a ‘required’ documents list and one for the much longer list of ‘potential’ documents to be included.
“Most legal case management systems don’t categorise documents in their databases,” adds Lumb. “In the conveyancer trials to date we’ve had to include code to identify documents from their titles.
“This new specification creates a platform for case management systems and proptech companies to work together to set new standards.”
RLBA Chair Nigel Walley (pictured), MD of Logbook company Chimni, adds: “This standardising of names and categories is a key area to be refined through work with other industry bodies like the Legal Software Suppliers Association.
“This new standard will then be included in the RLBA’s campaign to roll out ‘Completion Logbooks’ across all conveyancers.”
