I am obtaining a mortgage with Nat West. I intend to retain the legal services of a Licensed Conveyancer in Dorset. Does the Nat West Conveyancing panel include Licensed Conveyancers?
The Nat West conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, associated to the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and have to be out of my let out apartment in Dorset by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. How realistic is it to complete in three weeks as don't want to have to find temporary accommodation?
The normal practice is not to serve notice on a rental unless you have exchanged. If you have not previously done so, contact to your solicitor and ask them to they seek the assistance the other side, try to a target completion date that all parties will aim to achieve
Completed the sale of my flat in Dorset last September but the buyer keeps e-mailing every few hours complaining that their conveyancer is waiting to hear from mysolicitor. What should my lawyer have done now that I have sold?
Following your house sale your lawyer should send the transfer deeds and all of the paperwork to the purchaser's lawyers. Depending on the transaction, your solicitor should also send confirmation that the mortgage has been paid off to the buyers lawyers. There is unlikely to be post completion formalities specific conveyancing in Dorset.
It is unclear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have telephoned my Dorset bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My Dorset conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend based on their specific requirements. Who do I believe?
Your lawyer must comply with the CML Handbook section two conditions for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
I had an offer accepted on a property in Dorset on 25/11/2025, valuation was booked 3 days later, received a clean bill of health. Solicitor instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Kent Reliance and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Kent Reliance to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I have instructed a Dorset conveyancer having checked that they are on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
Nationwide will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Nationwide will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Dorset surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
My brother has encouraged me to use his conveyancers in Dorset. Should I find my own property lawyer?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Dorset conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to get recommendations from friends or relatives who have actually previously instructed the solicitor you're considering.