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approved by Birmingham Midshires
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Birmingham Midshires list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Panel
Common questions asked concerning the Birmingham Midshires Solicitor Panel
What is the rationale as to why all UK lawyers are not on the Birmingham Midshires Solicitor panel?
Lenders point to the fact that solicitor-led fraud is thought to be responsible for millions of pounds of fraud every year. The removal of law firms off of lender panels started with the rise in mortgage fraud, which prompted a thematic review by the Financial Services Authority in 2011. Its outcome included recommendations for lenders to review their conveyancing panels, which kicked off a major policy change in the sector. It led to banks and building societies purging less reputable firms off their books
Expecting to move into my new home next Thursday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for Birmingham Midshires. What risks do Birmingham Midshires expect the insurance to cover?
Any lawyer on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Birmingham Midshires’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Birmingham Midshires). Being on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these instructions.
I see that you have a post code search directory identifying firms on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I retain them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
My house is up for sale and I have a buyer. Does my solicitor have to be on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
Can you point me to a directory of Birmingham Midshires panel solicitors on the CML Handbook Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Is it the case that all conveyancing solicitors on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
There is generally no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
We have had an offer accepted on a flat I spoke to a lawyer recommended by my uncle and he suggested using a solicitor approved by Birmingham Midshires. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Birmingham Midshires if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Birmingham Midshires suggested that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Birmingham Midshires 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Birmingham Midshires for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Birmingham Midshires’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
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