My wife and I are purchasing a 2 bedroom flat in Deal with a mortgage. We like our Deal lawyer, however the mortgage company says he's not on their "panel". It seems we have no option but to appoint one of the mortgage company panel conveyancing practices or keep our Deal solicitor as well as pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. This feels very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. Your mortgage offer is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose 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. A further alternative is for your Deal conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
My partner and I are purchasing a newly constructed flat in Deal and my lawyer is advising me that she has to the lender to disclose incentives from the developer. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I would rather not prolong matters. is my lawyer playing by the book?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your solicitor. A precondition to being on a lender panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I have been recommended a conveyancing solicitor in Deal. I I would like to check if they are on the Platform Home Loans Ltd conveyancing panel. Could you help?
The first thing to do is e-mail the lawyer and enquire if they can act for the lender. Alternatively please call Platform Home Loans Ltd who may be able to assist.
A colleague recommended that if I am purchasing in Deal I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
This is a search is usually quoted for as part of the standard Deal conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Deal around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Deal 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 data regarding Deal.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Deal?
Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Deal. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
I am a fortnight into a freehold purchase having been referred to conveyancers by the high street agent to execute conveyancing in Deal. I am not happy. Can you you assist me in finding new lawyers?
They would have to be very bad in order to consider changing them. Has the mortgage been generated? In the event that it has you must make them aware of the new conveyancer and ensure the loan are issued to the new lawyers. The conveyancer needs to be on the lenders panel to avoid escalating expenses and frustration. That should be your first question of the new lawyers. Our find a solicitor tool should assist you in finding a lender approved solicitor for your conveyancing in Deal