My partner and I are hoping to buy a property in Blandfordum and are in fact using a Blandfordum conveyancing firm. Within the last couple of days our solicitor has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Halifax have this evening contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our Blandfordum lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. What do we do from here?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchasers' solicitors to also represent the mortgage company. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact your lender and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Blandfordum solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it will likely delay the transaction as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
We were just about to exchange contracts for a property in Blandfordum. We encountered a snag. Our loan offer with Chelsea Building Society runs out on 2/3/2026 but the owners are putting forward a completion date of 4/3/2026. Is it possible to prolong the loan offer?
The best person to address this question is your lawyer who will hopefully calculate whether he or she is better off negotiating with the lender, vendor’s representatives, selling agents or indeed all three taking into account the history of your house move to date.
Why do I have to pay up front for conveyancing in Blandfordum?
Where you are retaining lawyers for conveyancing in Blandfordum your lawyer will request that you to provide them with funds to cover the the cost of the conveyancing searches. This will be the total of the cost of the conveyancing searches. When the deposit is as part of the total price then this will be needed immediately ahead of exchange of contracts. The closing balance that is due will be payable a couple of days ahead of the completion date.
How does conveyancing in Blandfordum differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Blandfordum contact us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is constructed. This is because house builders in Blandfordum typically purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Blandfordum or who has acted in the same development.
My husband and I are 14 days into a freehold purchase having been directed to conveyancers by the selling agent to carry out the conveyancing in Blandfordum. I am am starting to be dissatisfied with the quality of service. Could you you assist me in finding new lawyers?
A lawyer would have to be really poor in order to consider changing them. Has your mortgage offer been issued? In the event that it has you must make them aware of the replacement conveyancer and ensure the mortgage documents are re-issued. Your new conveyancer should be on the lenders panel to avoid escalating expenses and delays. That should be your starting point. Our find a solicitor tool should assist you in finding a bank approved conveyancer for your home move in Blandfordum