Me and my fiance are buying a 2 bedroom apartment in Essex with a mortgage. We like our Essex solicitor, however the mortgage company advise she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel firms or continue with our Essex conveyancing practitioner as well as pay for one of their panel ones to act for them. This feels very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders 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 Essex conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
My mortgage company has recommended a law firm on their panel based in Essex but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Essex round the corner to me. Can you help?
Far from all Essex conveyancing solicitors are approved and listed on all banks conveyancing panel. Use the above find an approved solicitor tool to locate a Essex conveyancing conveyancer on the on the bank panel.
I am planning on selling our property in Essex and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. A local conveyancer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using an internet conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Essex. We have lived in Essex for three years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to get clarification need.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same sickness)
I decided to have a survey carried out on a house in Essex ahead of appointing lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor has said that some banks will refuse to give a loan on a flying freehold property.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different requirements for example to Nationwide. If you contact us we can check with the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Essex. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Essex to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
How straightforward is it to use the search tool to find a conveyancing solicitor in Essex on the authorised to act for my bank?
1st pick a lender such as Yorkshire Building Society, Barnsley Building Society or Britannia then specify your preferred area a common one being Essex. Conveyancing practices in Essex and further afield will then be identified.