We are purchasing a 1 bedroom apartment in Biggin Hill with a mortgage. We would like to retain our Biggin Hill lawyer, but the mortgage company advise she’s not on their "panel". It seems we have no option but to instruct one of the lender panel conveyancing practices or retain our Biggin Hill property lawyer and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; can we not require that the lender use our Biggin Hill lawyer ?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Biggin Hill conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
As someone with no idea as to the Biggin Hill conveyancing process what is your top tip you can give me for the ownership transfer in Biggin Hill
You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Biggin Hill or throughout England and Wales is an adversarial process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is plenty of opportunity for friction between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. For example, the vendor, selling agent and on occasion the lender. Choosing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Biggin Hill should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE party in the transaction whose responsibility is to look after your legal interests and to keep you safe.
There is a distinct emergence of a "blame" culture- someone has to be blamed for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you should always trust your conveyancer ahead of all other parties in the home moving process.
How can we know in advance if a Biggin Hill conveyancing solicitor on the HSBC panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Biggin Hill obtaining recommendations is a sensible start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always suggest that you speak with the solicitor conducting your conveyancing.
We expect to receive a DIP from TSB this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do TSB recommend any Biggin Hill solicitors on the TSB conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?
You will need to appoint Biggin Hill solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the TSB conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and TSB through the process.
I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Lloyds. I assume I don't need a Biggin Hill conveyancing practitioner on the Lloyds panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your Lloyds mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Lloyds mortgage from the register. Lloyds, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Lloyds has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Lloyds has instructed the Land Registry to do so
What does a local search inform me concerning the property my wife and I buying in Biggin Hill?
Biggin Hill conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations such as Onsearch The local search is essential in every Biggin Hill conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any unpleasant once you have moved into your new home. The search should supply information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject sections.
I am looking into buying my first house which is in Biggin Hill and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Biggin Hill. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Biggin Hill area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?
Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Biggin Hill. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found
How do I find a Biggin Hill conveyancing solicitor on the mortgage company conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 20miles to attend the conveyancer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location, in this case Biggin Hill and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest Biggin Hill. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the mortgage company solicitor panel.