Relations between estate agents and conveyancers are set to improve following the appointment of Propertymark’s interim Executive Chair Nicky Heathcote (main pic) to a similar role at the Conveyancing Association.

Heathcote, who stepped into her Propertymark job following the departure of Chris Hamer last year, enjoyed a stellar career at the Land Registry before joining Propertymark in 2018, starting as a non-executive director before progressing into her current role.

Better relations between conveyancers and agents are needed – delays in sales progression have caused friction between agents and conveyancers since the market re-awakened in earnest last year and sales volumes jumped.

In October a joint letter from The Society of Licensed Conveyancers, the Bold Legal Group and the Conveyancing Association asked agents to understand that transactions were going to take longer than usual to progress and to ‘please be patient’, and in February a Call for Kindness campaign was launched.

Nathan Emerson (pictured), CEO of Propertymark, says: “We are very pleased for Nicky and feel that her new role will be hugely beneficial for partnership working and future relationships.

“From everyday progressing on the ground, to board level, property agents and conveyancers have a natural relationship, Nicky’s new appointment is a continuation of that relationship.”

Heathcote says: “This will give me a broader view of the housing market, and Propertymark will be well placed to benefit from my new knowledge and experience.

“I look forward to continuing my work at Propertymark, keeping the energy going with member relationships, and ensuring they really are at the heart of all we do.”