We are looking to buy a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in Catton who is on the Leeds Building Society approved panel. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?
Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Leeds Building Society . We don't recommend any particular firms conducting conveyancing in Catton.
we are a couple who decided to purchase a newbuild apartment in Catton with a homeloan from Aldermore.We have a Catton conveyancing practitioner but Aldermore advised that her practice is not on their "panel". we are left little option but to use a Aldermore panel lawyer or keep our local solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The home loan issued to you contains terms and conditions, one of which will be that conveyancers must be on the Aldermore approved list. in the past, most banks 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. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Aldermore
I am the only beneficiary of my late father’s will with all property in now in my sole name, including the house in Catton. The Catton property was put into my name in January. I plan to dispose of the house. I do know about the CML 6 month 'rule', which means that my property ownership will be considered the same way as if I'd bought the property in January. Do I have to wait 6 months to sell?
The CML handbook obliges solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you might be caught by that. many banks would take a pragmatic view as this requirement is chiefly there to pick up on the purchase and immediately sell or the wholesaling and assigning of property.
We had instructed conveyancing lawyers located in Catton on the Leeds Building Society solicitor panel. They are now charging me a further sum for handling the Leeds Building Society mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee specified by Leeds Building Society?
Unfortunately, so long as it is in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your lawyer can charge a fee for this. The charge is not dictated by Leeds Building Society but by your Catton conveyancing practitioner. Plenty of firms on the Leeds Building Society panel will levy ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.
I am buying a property in Catton. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Kent Reliance have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As your lender is Kent Reliance your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements outlined in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Kent Reliance. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Kent Reliance where a lease fails to satisfy these conditions. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not restricted to Catton.
How does conveyancing in Catton differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Catton come to us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because house builders in Catton usually buy the land, 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Catton or who has acted in the same development.
Myself and my fiance have just had an offer accepted on a flat and had an appointment on Tuesday with HSBC for the mortgage. They warned us that when it comes to choosing a property lawyer that unless they are on their approved list of conveyancing practitioners then we will have to pay out a further fee of £200. This is because they will then have to appoint a conveyancer to act on their behalf as well as the one we select on our behalf and we will be on the hook for their costs. I have asked HSBC to provide me with a list so I can seek estimates only from their approved conveyancers but was told that I need to check with each individual solicitor to see if they are on the panel. Is there a list online?
You can enquire of HSBC what their panel criteria is for a solicitor.Thereafter ask the solicitor of your choice whether they meet the criteria and have they acted on loans for HSBC in the past. If the answer to those is yes, then just clarify this with HSBC. Alternatively please utilise our search facility and we should be able to find you a solicitor in Catton on the panel for HSBC.