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approved by Aviva Equity Release

Aviva Equity Release’s conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Aviva Equity Release are the client. A precondition to being on the Aviva Equity Release approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Aviva Equity Release). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Aviva Equity Release can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.

Most conveyancing panel lawyers for Aviva Equity Release undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to assist

Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel requirements are different to Aviva Equity Release’s conveyancing panel criteria.

You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Aviva Equity Release through the process.

Aviva Equity Release will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Aviva Equity Release 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 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. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Aviva Equity Release you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.