Legal & General Home Finance Conveyancing Panel Information

Legal & General Home Finance’s answer to this question can be found at section 6.4.4 of their CML Part 2 requirements

No such training is arranged by the CML however they do organise a number of general conveyancing related conferences which are attended by firms on the Legal & General Home Finance conveyancing panel. It is our intention to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on Legal & General Home Finance’s Part 2 obligations. Law firms on the Legal & General Home Finance conveyancing panel will be invited. Information about the webinar will be communicated as part of the LENDERmonitor Alerts.

Paragraph 16.2.1 of Part 1 of the Handbook relevant to a solicitor on the Legal & General Home Finance conveyancing panel reads ‘Our mortgage secures further advances. Consequently, when a further advance is required for alterations or improvements to the property we will not normally instruct a member of our conveyancing panel but if you are instructed the appropriate provisions of this Handbook will apply’.

Legal & General Home Finance make no specific obligation to carry out any of the searches listed. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook simply states that ‘you must ensure that any other searches which may be appropriate to the particular property, taking into account its locality and other features are carried out’.

Please note that most ‘less usual searches’ (as described in the Law Society’s Conveyancing Handbook) are not optional as far as Legal & General Home Finance are concerned if they are ‘appropriate’. Most lenders will not require environmental searches (you should Check Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook to be sure), but you are obliged to explain risks and availability to the client.

Ground stability, Plansearch,flood searches as well as the searches listed in the question are optional – but only to the extent that you have allowed the borrower client to make an informed choice. Regardless of whether there is a mortgage, If you have not advised the client that these (and other) searches are available and what risks they cover, then you will be liable if the client suffers loss through not conducting one. Is this covered within your Terms of Engagement or Report on Title?

One search provider lists over 72 conveyancing searches – do you know what all of them are and when they may be relevant? If you are unsure as to which searches are appropriate based on location contact your search provider or call one of the leading search companies such as STL.

We would recommend that you supply details of the date of removal, information on the reason for removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This should not adversely impact your application but gives the Law Society viability as to what has occured.

You need to communicate with Legal & General Home Finance to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook incorporates a specific inquiry for lenders to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. Legal & General Home Finance in their Part 2’s state: You will need to quote the firm’s Legal & General Home Finance solicitors panel reference.