I am selling my home in Ashford Kent and the estate agent has just text me to warn that the buyers are switching conveyancer. I am told that this is due to the fact that the bank will only work with property lawyers on their conveyancing panel. Why would a big named mortgage company only deal with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to appoint for their conveyancing in Ashford Kent ?
UK lenders have always had panels of law firms that can represent them, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for many years.
Banks justify this action to a rise in fraud as the reason for the pruning – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
Completed the sale of my flat in Ashford Kent last February yet the purchaser is SMS messaging every few hours to moan that his solicitor needs to hear from mysolicitor. What are the post completion sale legalities now that I have sold?
After completion of your house sale your lawyer is committed to deliver the transfer documentation and all of the paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors. Where appropriate, your lawyer should also confirm that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been redeemed to the buyers conveyancers. There is unlikely to be post completion procedures unique to conveyancing in Ashford Kent.
Is there a search tool that I can utilise to check that the solicitor handling my conveyancing in Ashford Kent is on the lender’sapproved panel? I am looking to avoid the situation of having one lawyer for me and one for Accord Mortgages Ltd thus spending £175.00 in further conveyancing fees.
You should take advantage of the find a lender approved solicitor tool on this site. Pick the mortgage company and type ‘Ashford Kent’ or your preferred area and you will see numerous solicitors based in Ashford Kent or by proximity to you.
How does conveyancing in Ashford Kent differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Ashford Kent come to us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because builders in Ashford Kent tend to purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Ashford Kent or who has acted in the same development.
I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for freehold conveyancing in Ashford Kent. I've land on a site which looks to be the perfect answer If there is a chance to get all this stuff done via web that would be ideal. Do I need to be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?
As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?
We are thinking of appointing a web based conveyancing practitioner as opposed to a Ashford Kent conveyancing practice. Am I making a mistake?
There are advantages of being able to visit a local Ashford Kent conveyancing solicitor such as
- signing documents on short notice
- getting face-to-face explanations of issues you don't understand
- the ability to raise concerns if things go pear-shaped
When comparing fees, look carefully for hidden extras. The majority decent Ashford Kent high street solicitors give an all-inclusive figure. Many online companies seem to offer cheap fees, yet have burried 'extras' in the in the terms and conditions.