By Legal Futures’ Associates SearchFlow
SearchFlow – the UK’s leading provider of conveyancing search solutions – has today launched Post Completion Services that enables legal professionals to manage and submit validated Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) returns and all HM Land Registry electronic Document Registration Service (eDRS) applications and requisitions – including the AP1 change of register form – as part of the conveyancing process.
Within the SearchFlow online platform, customers can add SDLT and HM Land Registry (HMLR) applications to each client’s existing case, meaning data is managed in one central place. SDLT returns can now be completed in half the time it would previously have taken with paper forms and are now validated for accuracy before submission, meaning certificates are received more quickly.
The SearchFlow SDLT submission service, which has been built using official HMRC business rules, uses recognisable form sections and links to official guidance notes to support users. In addition, there is a ‘save a draft’ option on the form with no time restrictions, eliminating concerns about losing information mid-transaction, or that the submission may ‘time out’ like the government’s portal.
The SearchFlow eDRS service enables conveyancers to submit all types of HMLR applications. It intelligently uses information from the existing case, as well as the SDLT data, to pre-populate many aspects of the forms. Supporting documentation can then be added including transfers, charges and mortgage details – all data on the form is then validated prior to submission. This includes the option to attach the SDLT5 to an application.
The SearchFlow eDRS dashboard then allows users to instantly see the status of all cases providing a full audit record, including the date stamp of submissions and requisitions, providing complete visibility. All fees are then taken automatically by HMLR by direct debit.
Dr Thomas Quirke, Managing Director, SearchFlow, said “Our new Post Completion Services enable property conveyancers to easily complete, manage and track all SDLT and eDRS submissions – and requisitions – in one place. Rather than use the government’s portal, these tasks can instead be centralised, saving time and eliminating the need to rekey much of the data.
“Forms are validated before submission so incorrect data cannot be submitted, there are no restrictive timescales or system ‘time outs’ to contend with, plus the portal provides a clear audit trail of all submissions and requisitions. We are delighted with the early feedback we have received from our customers.”
With more than one million conveyancing searches and legal reports run every year for over 2,000 legal clients across England and Wales, SearchFlow is the leading provider of comprehensive searches, surveys, identity checks and conveyancing insurance solutions and prides itself in working in partnership with its clients to provide solutions that enable competitive advantage.
For more information on SearchFlow, call 0870 423 2922, email sales@searchflow.co.uk or visit www.searchflow.co.uk.
