I am nearing exchange of contracts for my ground floor flat in Burslem and the estate agent has just called to warn that the buyers are appointing a new property lawyer. I am told that this is due to the fact that the lender will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a big named mortgage company only work with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose to handle their conveyancing in Burslem ?
UK lenders have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Lloyds Banking Group, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have represented them for many years.
Lending institutions point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the reduction – criteria have been narrowed as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. Banks tend not to disclose 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 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 unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
My Burslem conveyancer has identified a discrepancy between the surveyor’s assumptions in the valuation report and what is in the title deeds. My solicitor says that he needs to check that the bank is OK with this discrepancy and is content to go ahead. Is my conveyancer’s stance right?
Your lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Burslem. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 31/10/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I have recentlyfound out that Stirling Law have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Burslem for a purchase of a freehold house 18 months ago. How can I establish that my home is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?
The easiest method to see if the property is in your name, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Burslem conveyancing specialists.
I am purchasing my first flat in Burslem with the aid of help to buy. The builders refused to move on the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative suggested that I not inform my solicitor about this extras as it may impact my mortgage with the lender. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.
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.
Given that I will soon spend over three hundred thousand on a garden flat in Burslem I wish to talk to a solicitor concerning theconveyancing in advance of appointing the firm. Can this be arranged?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the conveyancer who will be carrying out your property ownership legalities in Burslem.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a matter number. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for residential conveyancing in Burslem should be the figure that you end up paying.