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approved by Darlington Building Society
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Darlington Building Society list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Common questions asked concerning the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel
I am in the process of selling my maisonette and the EA has just telephoned to say that the purchasers are changing their law firm. The excuse is that Darlington Building Society will only work with solicitors on their approved list. On what basis would a leading mortgage company only deal with specific solicitors?
Lenders have always had panels of law firms they are willing 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 worked with them for decades.
Banks blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be 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 says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. 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 buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
I am due to complete my purchase next Monday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as as he informs me that he is duty bound to validate that it is in order for Darlington Building Society. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Darlington Building Society’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Darlington Building Society). Being on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these instructions.
Are there any apps to help search for a local solicitor on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 miles to meet the conveyancer.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel search on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Darlington Building Society solicitor panel.
The solicitors that I recently instructed on my purchase in Newcastle has without warning shut down. They were on acting for me because I needed a firm on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel and my previous lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What should be my next steps?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then let them know straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers may be able to assist
I have agreed a price on a house I spoke to a conveyancer recommended by my uncle and he recommended retaining a solicitor approved by Darlington Building Society. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Darlington Building Society if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Darlington Building Society pointed out that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Darlington Building Society 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Darlington Building Society for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Darlington Building Society’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
The for formalities of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Darlington Building Society. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about Darlington Building Society. How does one go about formally complaining?
All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Darlington Building Society branches or the Customer Care Team at Darlington Building Society head office. We understand that complaints to Darlington Building Society are resolved very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR with full details of your complaint.
Darlington Building Society have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Darlington Building Society or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Darlington Building Society will tell you what documents they want. Darlington Building Society will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Darlington Building Society will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.