My wife and I are buying a 2 bedroom flat in Kensal Rise with a mortgage. We like our Kensal Rise conveyancer, however the mortgage company advise he's not on their "panel". It appears that we have no option but to use one of the mortgage company panel conveyancing practices or continue with our Kensal Rise as well as pay for one of their panel firms to represent them. We regard this is inequitable; are we not able to insist that the bank use our Kensal Rise ?
No, not really. 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 Kensal Rise conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with . Kensal Rise conveyancing practitioners were appointed. How long does it take for to send the offer to the ?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have conducted the valuation? Have you informed as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.
I have paid off my mortgage with . I assume I don't need a Kensal Rise on the panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the mortgage from the register. , and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- has instructed the Land Registry to do so
Completion of my purchase has taken place for my property in Kensal Rise. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?
Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are resolved very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
The deeds to my property can not be found. The conveyancers who conducted the conveyancing in Kensal Rise 10 years ago are no longer around. What are my next steps?
As long as the title is registered the details of your proprietorship will be held by the Land Registry under a Title Number. It is possible to perform a search at the Land Registry, locate your property and secure current copies of the property title for a small fee. If the title is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally hold a file duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be ordered for £20 inclusive of VAT.
What tools are available to search for a Kensal Rise solicitor on the conveyancing panel? I have wheels and am happy to travel upto 10kilometers to meet the lawyer.
You can use the tool on this website. Please select a mortgage company and your location and you will see a number of Kensal Rise conveyancing lawyers locally. We have listed some Kensal Rise conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can call them to check if they are on the member panel
How much experience do your Kensal Rise conveyancing solicitors have with Help To Buy, Shared Equity and similar schemes?
Kensal Rise conveyancing lawyers help thousands of buyers move home every year and assisted plenty of clients through the Help To Buy scheme. The chances are that whatever makes your case unique Kensal Rise conveyancers have worked on recent similar cases.