13 October 2003
New Chairman for CoPSO
The Council of Property Search Organisations has confirmed that Fiona Hoyle will be its new Chairman from 1 October 2003, taking over from Mark Boleat who has done an excellent job in establishing this new trade association for property search companies.
Fiona Hoyle was previously Senior Lawyer at the Council of Mortgage Lenders and has been involved in key projects directly affecting the property search industry. In 1997, she was appointed to the Government’s Steering Group overseeing the home buying and selling reforms that have recently been included in the draft Housing Bill. She was also involved in the lending industry’s initiative to introduce standard instructions for all conveyancing firms in England & Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
On taking up her appointment, Fiona Hoyle commented:
“The property search market is experiencing a changing environment. The Housing Bill proposals for Home Information Packs present opportunities for the sector, but there are a number of issues that need to be addressed in advance, not least the widening of access to local authority and government data. Increasing numbers of lenders and conveyancers now accept private searches and the introduction of a Code of Practice for all members will serve to further improve standards. My job as Chairman is to respond to these challenges and to ensure that property search companies continue to play an integral role in improving the home buying process.”