I am progressing with the sale of my apartment in Burnham and the estate agent has just text me to warn that the buyers are appointing a new solicitor. The excuse is that the bank will only work with solicitors on their approved list. Why would a leading mortgage company only work with certain lawyers rather the firm that they want to appoint for their conveyancing in Burnham ?
UK lenders have always had panels of law firms they are content to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 25 years.
Lending institutions point to the increase 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 being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Some 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.
My husband and I changing mortgage lender for our penthouse in Burnham with Virgin Money. We have a son 18 who lives at home. Our solicitor requested us to identify anyone over the age of 17 other than ourselves who lives in the flat. Our lawyer has now e-mailed a document for our son to sign, giving up any rights in the event that the flat is forfeited by the lender. I have two questions (1) Is this form unique to the Virgin Money conveyancing panel as he did not need to sign this form when we bought 5 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
First, rest assured that your Virgin Money conveyancing panel solicitor is doing the right thing as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to Virgin Money. This is solely used to protect Virgin Money if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave. It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of Virgin Money had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.
We note that you have a search directory identifying solicitors on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I appoint them for our own conveyancing in Burnham?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Burnham.
I am considering applying for a Virgin Money mortgage for purchase of a new build (under development) in Burnham with 70% loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Virgin Money ?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel, but Virgin Money would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
I'm purchasing a new build house in Burnham benefiting from help to buy. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of extras instead. The house builders rep told me not inform my solicitor about the deal as it could jeopardize my loan with the lender. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
I'm converting the mortgage on my current house to a buy to let mortgage with Platform Home Loans Ltd and I will use the rest of the raised equity as a down payment on another house. The location we are interested in is Burnham. Will your conveyancers be able to act for the two mortgage companies and tie in the two deals?
Make use of our search tool on this page to ensure that the lawyers are approved by both mortgage companies. Assuming that they are the lawyer will be able to connect the two transactions but you should have a chat with you solicitor and make apparent your desired outcome and needs.