I am one month into the sale of my apartment in Hawkhurst and the estate agent has just called to say that the buyers are appointing a new conveyancer. The reason given is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a leading mortgage company only engage with certain law firms rather the firm that they want to choose to handle their conveyancing in Hawkhurst ?
Lenders have always had an approved set of law firms that can act for them, but in the last few years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have represented them for many years.
Mortgage companies blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the pruning – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to maintain. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are not going to have any sway in the decision.
What is the best way to discover of the solicitor conducting my conveyancing in Hawkhurst is on the bank’sconveyancing panel? I am looking to avoid the situation of having one lawyer for me and one for Santander thus spending £175.00 in additional legal charges.
Please do take advantage of the search tool on this page. Pick the mortgage company and type ‘Hawkhurst’ or your location and you will discover a number of lawyer offices in Hawkhurst or nearest you.
I understand that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I require chancel insurance when acquiring a residence in Hawkhurst? or Apparently there is a law dating back centuries that could mean that owners of property residing in a parish church boundary will be compelled to pay for maintenance to the chancel in proximity to the church. Is this a legitimate concern for conveyancing in Hawkhurst?
Unless a prior acquisition of the property took place after 12 October 2013 you could take it that conveyancing practitioners handling conveyancing in Hawkhurst to continue to suggest a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.
Me and my brother have a terraced Edwardian house in Hawkhurst. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Accord Mortgages Ltd. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Hawkhurst and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.
How do I use the search facility to choose a conveyancing practitioner in Hawkhurst on the approved list for my mortgage?
Step one is to choose a mortgage company such as Accord Mortgages Ltd, Skipton Building Society or Britannia then choose your preferred area e.g. Hawkhurst. Conveyancing firms in Hawkhurst and across England and Wales will then be listed.
I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing practitioner in Hawkhurst for my sale. Is it possible to check a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
One may review presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from investigations commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could monitor telephone calls for training purposes.