Cost of quality

The recent letters from RM Napier and RS Ainsworth surely illustrate the dangers of lenders treating conveyancing purely as a 'business' (see [2000] Gazette, 28 September, 18).

Yes, the desire to reduce costs by storing as few documents as possible and by not acknowledging title deeds is understandable from a narrow view point.

However, as your writers lucidly point out, this attitude has potential for causing considerable problems.

Lenders must realise that they, just as much as the profession, have a responsibility as participants in the conveyancing system, which should not be sacrificed on the altar of 'efficiency'.

They must accept, as solicitors have, that providing a service involves expense.

We are already sent survey reports by some lenders and asked to comment on them.

Now they only want to store the charge certificate - before long, solicitors will be asked to collect mortgage advances in person and calculate redemption statements!

Come on lenders - shoulder your share of responsibility instead of seeking to lay it off on the rest of us.

CJ McGrorty, The Merriman Partnership, Marlborough, Wiltshire