Incoming volume of work
As many Managing Trustees may already be aware, the Legal Team at TMCP are again experiencing a large upturn in correspondence and workflow. This is as a result of the ‘perfect storm’ of the already high volume of sales following the post lockdown review of property with the annual peak in Manse sales and purchases in readiness for the start of the new Connexional Year.
Due to the high volume of queries we are receiving it may take longer than normal to reply.
As always, the Legal Team at TMCP will continue to prioritise your work to help facilitate completion dates which are confirmed to us in good time, work to other deadlines that are requested by Managing Trustees, and progress on going work and chase third party solicitors as required. Please rest assured that your correspondence will be allocated to the appropriate legal officer who has the most experience and availability for the transaction you are undertaking. Your designated legal officer will be in touch as soon as they are able to deal with your request. However, due to resources it does mean that there is a limit on how quickly we can respond.
How to speed up the process
a) Use of panel solicitors
To help you progress your transactions as efficiently as possible we would encourage you to please instruct one of the firms on the Methodist panel of solicitors (‘the Panel’). By instructing the Panel you can take advantage of the time saving facilitated by the streamlining process for Sales (Streamlining Process) and rely on the Panel’s knowledge of Methodist procedure along with their close working relationship with TMCP. You can find details of the Streamlining Process for sales and the steps to take on the Streamlining Page of TMCP’s website. Details of the firms on the Panel can be found on the Panel Solicitors Page of TMCP’s website.
At TMCP we are finding that once a buyer has been found, your sales can proceed as quickly using the streamlining process as the Panel and your buyer’s solicitors can deal with the usual conveyancing processes with very limited involvement by TMCP. Essentially, streamlined sales do not require as much input from TMCP once the buyer has been found as reliance can be placed on your Panel solicitor and the template documents already agreed with TMCP.
Beyond sales, TMCP is finding that use of the Panel means that transactions run much more smoothly with less need for ‘back and forth’ correspondence and questions because of the Panel’s familiarity with Methodist processes and the close working relationship with TMCP.
Please therefore bear this is mind when you are looking to instruct a solicitor especially during this exceptionally busy time.
b) Early notification of deadlines
Another way in which you can assist TMCP is by agreeing reasonable timescales with the other party to your transactions and notifying us in good time about deadlines and meeting dates you need to receive a response by so that we can together focus on the priorities for your Circuits and Districts. We remain committed to do all we can to work to such timescales.
Please also notify us without delay if you email us a query but the situation changes between sending your email and you receiving a response from TMCP. This will help the legal officers at TMCP to focus on live requests that continue to be pressing rather committing time to a request you may no longer need a response to.
We thank you for your patience during these challenging times