Compliance Review
The LINZ Registrar-General of Land carries out periodic compliance reviews for e-dealing customers. This is designed to provide assurance that e-dealing certifications are valid and to assist the conveyancer and the firm in ensuring the requirements for collecting and retaining the relevant authority and information are met. You will receive feedback regarding gaps in your documentation and support in rectifying them. This is not a complete review or audit of your entire firm and/or all documentation.
e-dealing Audit Methodology
In 2007, LINZ has tested the possibility of introducing a risk, system and controls-based audit methodology for e-dealings by conducting a pilot with law firms. This methodology encourages ownership and management of risk, best practice and is seen as having advantages for both LINZ and law firms. Following the pilot, LINZ consulted with conveyancing professionals on the proposed methodology. Subsequently, the NZ Law Society Land Titles Committee has endorsed the Registrar-General of Land's decision to implement the e-dealing Audit Methodology across all law firms, commencing 1 December 2007.
Traditional compliance reviews will continue by sampling a law firm's e-dealing documentation however LINZ will consider scaling back the level of compliance review for those law firms participating in an audit and receiving a satisfactory report.
The e-dealing Audit Methodology document is available here - (pdf 103KB).
e-dealing Compliance Review Requirements
View the information sheet on e-dealing Compliance Review - (pdf 45KB) including information on the evidentiary requirements for each instrument type.
Document Retention for e-dealings
Conveyancers are required by law to retain signed Client Authority & Instruction (A&I) forms and/or associated documents for instruments the conveyancer has certified, signed and submitted. These should be kept for a period of ten years. See Section 164A of the Land Transfer Act and the Land Transfer Regulations.
The NZLS Client Authority and Instruction form may be used for this purpose.