My fiance and I are buying a purpose built flat in Norwood Green with a homeloan from Skipton Building Society.We would like to retain our Norwood Green conveyancing practitioner but Skipton Building Society advised that he's not listed on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct a Skipton Building Society panel lawyer or retain our high street solicitor and fork out for a Skipton Building Society panel lawyer to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, a common one being that lawyers needs to be on the Skipton Building Society solicitor panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could find 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 solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Skipton Building Society
Is there a list of Co-operative panel conveyancers in Norwood Green on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the CML or Building Society Association sites. Very few mortgage companies make their panel listings open the public online. If you are looking for a Norwood Green conveyancer on the Co-operative please make the most of our facility.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Norwood Green off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Nottingham. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Nottingham, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Nottingham conveyancing panel.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house in Norwood Green. My mortgage broker suggested a property lawyer. I paid an advanced payment of £150. A couple of days later, the conveyancer called me to say that they were not on the Co-operative 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 Co-operative 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.
My relative suggested that if I am buying in Norwood Green I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
A search of this type is occasionally included in the estimate for your Norwood Green conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out important information about Norwood Green around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Norwood Green Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Norwood Green.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Norwood Green ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor has said that some mortgage companies may refuse to issue a mortgage on such a premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Nationwide. If you e-mail us we can investigate further with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Norwood Green. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
Am I right to be concerned by estate agents that I am dealing with are recommending a factory type conveyancing firm rather than a local Norwood Green conveyancing company?
As with many service providers, often suggestions from relatives can be worth their weight in gold. Yet there are many players in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks might all suggest conveyancers to choose. On occasion these solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but sometimes there might be a financial incentive behind the endorsement. You are at liberty to select your preferred lawyer. You need to be aware that the majority of mortgage providers have an approved list of conveyancers you must use for the lender aspect of your transaction.
I have instructed a Norwood Green conveyancing solicitor for our house purchase (FTB’s) and have spotted in the engagement letter that they are not governed by the Financial Conduct Authority. Need I be concerned or is that the norm with conveyancing practitioner?
We can't see why they should be. Most solicitor don't lend money. They should be governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who have stringent stipulations in place on monies sitting on client account.