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Bradford & Bingley’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Bradford & Bingley will allow to act for them.

Your lawyer being on the Bradford & Bingley conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Bradford & Bingley of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Bradford & Bingley then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Bradford & Bingley.

No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Bradford & Bingley 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

As solicitors, in order to be on the Bradford & Bingley conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Bradford & Bingley but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Bradford & Bingley will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.

Lenders such as Bradford & Bingley can revoke their mortgage offer although this is unusual. If Bradford & Bingley withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are various possible reasons but here are a few examples:

• Where to proceed with the Mortgage offer would be unlawful

• Following advice from the valuer on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion

• Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons

• Where the Lender’s right to possession is fettered in some way

• If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;