I am obtaining a offer of a home loan from Santander. I hope to employ the services of a Licensed Conveyancer in Melbourne. Does the Santander Conveyancing panel exclude conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Santander conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, associated to the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

My lender has suggested solicitors on their panel based in Melbourne but I would rather instruct a conveyancing lawyer in Melbourne or nearer to where I live. Can you assist?

It is by no means the case that all Melbourne conveyancing practitioners are listed all banks conveyancing panel. Use the above find an approved solicitor tool to find a Melbourne conveyancing conveyancer on the on the lender panel.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as a first time buyer of a garden flat in Melbourne. Do I pick up the keys to the premises on the completion date from my lawyer? If this is the case, I will use a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Melbourne?

On the day of completion you will not be required to go to the conveyancers office in Melbourne. Conveyancing lawyers for you will transfer the purchase money to the vendor’s conveyancers, and once they have received this, you should be able to receive the keys from the Estate Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen early afternoon.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Nationwide, do Melbourne lawyers have to pay a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?

We are unaware of any lender fees to be on their panel, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

I am purchasing a property in Melbourne. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Nationwide be concerned?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Nationwide your lawyer must check the conveyancing requirements contained in Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Nationwide. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook includes minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancing practitioners are required to report to Nationwide where a lease does not satisfy these specifications. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not restricted to Melbourne.

I am purchasing my first flat in Melbourne with a mortgage from Barnsley Building Society. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The sale representative told me not to tell my lawyer about the extras as it would impact my loan with the lender. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

If instructed can a conveyancer remove someone from the title of my property in Melbourne ?

Removing or adding someone to the title of your house is relatively straightforward. You’ll need to appoint a property lawyer to discuss your legal rights before you can proceed with a transfer of property. Contact us to book a free consultation with one a conveyancer