Professional indemnity insurance
- Section 13 of the Conveyancing Act 2004 requires all conveyancers to be covered by an approved policy of professional indemnity insurance to a prescribed minimum amount of $2 million.
- conveyancers are required to provide evidence annually that they are covered by this insurance.
- you must always be covered by the appropriate professional indemnity insurance. If your insurance lapses or is cancelled your conveyancers licence is deemed to be suspended.
- the policy must be in the individuals name or a combination of both individual and trading name.
Trust accounts
- a licensed conveyancer is required to maintain a trust account in an authorised deposit taking institution
- all monies received from clients must be deposited into this account
- a trust account must be audited each financial year
- an annual return for the period ending 30 June of that year must be provided to Consumer Affairs Tasmania by 30 September each year
- the annual return must contain the following:
- name and location of any trust account in which trust money has been deposited
- the total amount if all contributions to the trust account
- a balance statement of the trust account
- a report from the auditor stating the conveyancer has kept proper accounting records and other books during the period.
- audits are to be carried out by a person who is a member of any of the following:
- Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants
- National Institute of Accountants
- download the trust account audit report form (PDF, 191.1 KB)
Accounting
Conveyancing documents must:
- correctly record and explain the business transactions
- correctly record and explain the receipts and payments of trust money
- enable trust accounts and accounting records to be properly audited and
- be kept for 6 years after the date of the last relevant transaction.
Advertising
Conveyancing advertisements must not:
- contain information that is false, misleading or deceptive
- make or imply a comparison with another conveyancer and
- be vulgar, sensational or bring the conveyancer or profession into disrepute.
Sharing business premises
When sharing business premises a conveyancer must:
- maintain all records and accounts securely, confidentially and separately
- keep any other business they operate from the same location, separate from their conveyancing business
- make sure a business sharing the premises keeps their business separate as far as practicable
- make sure that sharing business premises doesn't breach the Conveyancing Act 2004 or the Rules of Conduct
- avoid or disclose any conflict of interest to clients
Being present at place of business
- a conveyancer must be in charge of their place of business and spend a substantial time at that location during normal business hours
- when operating a branch location a conveyancer must:
- personally undertake and supervise the work done and the conveyancing services provided and
- ensure all work and communication is given prompt attention
- a notice must be displayed in a prominent position in every office or branch that states:
- the contact details of any other office or business where a conveyancer may be located and
- if a conveyancer is not there, when they will next be in attendance.