I am acquiring a newly built apartment in Balham and my solicitor is telling me that she is duty bound to the mortgage company to reveal incentives from the builder. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange contracts and I have no desire to prolong deal. is my lawyer playing by the book?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancing practitioner. A precondition to being on a lender panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
We note that you have a search directory listing firms on the RBS conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I appoint them for our conveyancing in Balham?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the RBS conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Balham.
Is it the case that all Balham solicitor practices on the Barclays conveyancing panel are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Barclays approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Some lenders do list licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such organisation would be overseen by the CLC.
The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Balham. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?
Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Team at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.
It is not clear whether my lender requires a lease extension. I have called my Balham building society branch on numerous occasions and was told it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Balham conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend based on their published requirements. I have no idea who is right.
Your solicitor must comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 conditions for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
I am downsizing from my house. My past conveyancers has retired. I would be grateful for any recommendation of a conveyancing firm. I happen to live in Balham if that makes a difference.
You should use our search tool to help you choose a solicitor for your conveyancing in Balham. We have connected thousands of home buyers and sellers with regulated solicitors to ensure that the legalities of their house move goes smoothly.
We're first time buyers - had an offer accepted, but the selling agent has warned us that the owners will only go ahead if we use the agent's chosen conveyancers as they need a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a high street conveyancer used to conveyancing in Balham
It is highly unlikely the sellers are behind this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated buyer is going to damage their objectives. Speak to the owners direct and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances in place © you do not need to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you are going to instruct your own,trusted Balham conveyancing firm - not the ones that will earn the negotiator at the agency a referral fee or achieve conveyancing targets set by corporate headquarters.
My partner and I are acquiring a 2 bedroom flat in Balham. When we first instructed solicitor, they assured us that they were on all major UK bank panels. Our mortgage broker contacted us yesterday to advise that they don't appear to be on the Barclays approved list. If it turns out to be true, what should we do? Should we simply find a different solicitor that is on their approved list or do we cover the costs for dual representation, with Barclays appointing their own preferred conveyancing practitioner.
If you are buying a property requiring a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser’s lawyers to also represent the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a lawyer has to be on that lender's list of approved lawyers. An application has to be made by the conveyancing practitioner to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict conditions which the lawyer has to satisfy. Some banks now insist their panel firms to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your conveyancer should contact Barclays to find out if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on Barclays's conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Balham lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.