Me and my partner are buying a 1 bedroom apartment in Datchet with a mortgage. We have a Datchet conveyancer, but the bank says she’s not on their "panel". It appears that we have little choice but to instruct one of the lender panel conveyancing practices or keep our Datchet property lawyer and pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. We regard this is unjust; can we not insist that the lender use our Datchet solicitor ?
Unfortunately,no. 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. A further alternative is for your Datchet conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
All was ready to move into my new home in Datchet next Tuesday. My solicitor now wants me to supply her with evidence of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the lender. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers on acting for mortgage companies would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. These obligations are not specific to conveyancing in Datchet.
I have been recommended a conveyancing solicitor in Datchet. I need to find out whether they are on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd approved list of lawyers. Could you assist?
You should call your solicitor and enquire if they can act for the lender. Alternatively you can get in touch with Godiva Mortgages Ltd who may be able to assist.
If you had a top tip for choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Datchet what would it be?
It would be unwise to be seduced by the cheapest Datchet conveyancing quote. You really do get what you’re paying for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you go into the conveyancing with your eyes wide open.
This question may be naive but I am unseasoned as FTB of a ground floor flat in Datchet. Do I pick up the keys to the premises on the completion date from my solicitor? If so, I will appoint a local conveyancing solicitor in Datchet?
On the day of completion you will not be required to go to the conveyancers office in Datchet. Conveyancing lawyers for you will arrange to send the completion advance to the vendor’s lawyers, and once they have received this, you should be able to pick up the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs early afternoon.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house in Datchet. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their lawyer. I paid an advanced payment of £200. Shortly after, the lawyer called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the UBS conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the UBS panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
As co-executor for the will of my grandfather I am disposing of a residence in Newport but reside in Datchet. My lawyer (approximately 200 kilometers awayneeds me to sign a statutory declaration before the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing practitioner in Datchet to attest and place their company stamp on the document?
Technically speaking you are unlikely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are Datchet based
Do online conveyancing organisations cover everything a local Datchet solicitor does or must I use a solicitor for the final stages for my conveyancing in Datchet?
If you instruct an online conveyancer they will undertake all the tasks your Datchet solicitor would cover.