I am six weeks into the sale of my home in Forest Row and the estate agent has just called to say that the buyers are appointing a new law firm. The excuse is that the mortgage company will only work with property lawyers on their approved list. On what basis would a major lender only engage with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to appoint for their conveyancing in Forest Row ?

Banks have always had an approved set of law firms that can act for them, but in the last few years big names such as Santander, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for decades.

Banks justify this action to a rise in fraud by way of justification for the reduction – criteria have been narrowed as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

Are the Forest Row conveyancing solicitors identified as being on the Co-operative conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Co-operative?

Forest Row conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Co-operative directly.

The deeds to my property can not be found. The conveyancers who dealt with the conveyancing in Forest Row 4 years ago are no longer around. Will I be able to sell the house?

Assuming the title is registered the details of your proprietorship will be retained by HMLR under a Title Number. It is possible to carry out a search at the Land Registry, locate your house and order up to date copies of the Registered Entries for less than a fiver. Where the property is Leasehold then the Land Registry will in most cases retain a file copy of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be retrieved for twenty pounds.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing lawyer in Forest Row for my home move. Can I review a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public can see documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from inquisitions commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA may monitor telephone calls for training reasons.

Been reading online that Forest Row solicitors are more costly than Forest Row conveyancers in Forest Row to use when buying a property. Am I better off using a conveyancer or a solicitor where I am buying a property in Forest Row.

When it comes to conveyancing in Forest Row the costs are unlikely to vary dramatically depending on whether the legal expert is a licenced conveyancer or solicitor.