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approved by Ecology BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Ecology BS 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 Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Q and A’s regarding the Ecology Building Society Solicitor Panel
For what reasons would a firm of solicitors be removed from the Ecology Building Society approved conveyancing panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of solicitor practices had been removed from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
- lack of transactions
- the lawyer is a sole practitioner
- as part of the HSBC panel reduction
- regulatory contact by SRA
- accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Ecology Building Society
can you help? My lawyer is advising me that she is duty-bound to conduct a Local Authority search stemming from the fact that the firm are on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with Ecology Building Society your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Ecology Building Society’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Ecology Building Society. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I see that you have a post code search directory identifying law firms on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I retain them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
My solicitors in Newcastle have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Ecology Building Society. Is it case that being on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Ecology Building Society directly.
I am buying a property where the roof has a solar panel. Ecology Building Society have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Ecology Building Society your lawyer must to check the Ecology Building Society conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Ecology Building Society . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Ecology Building Society where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. The CML are developing guidance for Northern Ireland and Scotland.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage agreed with Ecology Building Society. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Ecology Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on a house. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Ecology Building Society panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.