Legislation to aid online conveyancing is on the governments agenda. Senior Land Registry official Steven Kelway told a legal seminar in London two weeks ago that officials are hammering out a statutory instrument for the Electronic Communications Act 2000.
The SI, which does not need parliamentary assent, would rewrite section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989, which states that agreements for sale must be in writing. It would also remove the requirement that mortgages be created by deed.
Primary legislation is still needed to overcome legal hurdles preventing completions being carried out electronically. This has been promised within the next three years.
Kelway told the seminar that Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine is keen that his department should be one of the first to implement the Electronic Communications Act.
References: EGi News 21/07/00
