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I appointed a law firm to work on my house purchase six weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with First Direct. The law firm confirmed to me that they are on First Direct conveyancing panel and provided me their panel reference. First Direct then called me to say that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What happens next? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the conveyancing panel for First Direct?
The answer depends on whether you still have confidence in the said solicitors and how long it will take for the firm to be reinstated on the First Direct conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the First Direct as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
Please assist. My lawyer is not to blame but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from First Direct was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6 months + 3. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the First Direct conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer valid.
One of the many conditions to being on the First Direct approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on First Direct)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to First Direct.
I am purchasing a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in London who is on the First Direct solicitor. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for First Direct . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
I am considering refinancing my home does my lawyer need to be on the First Direct Solicitor panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on First Direct conveyancing panel, but First Direct would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
I have a mortgage with First Direct. Conveyancing has been completed 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform First Direct?
You must advise First Direct prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of First Direct’s mortgage conditions. It may be that First Direct will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact First Direct directly. You need not do this via a First Direct conveyancing panel solicitor.
I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me to say that they were not on the First Direct conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the First Direct panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
We are are acquiring a penthouse in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon will soon beinstructed. My colleagueadvised that we enquire that the property lawyer in Hendon is on the First Direct list of approved conveyancing firms. Surely I don't need to do this, do I?
A limited percentage of Hendon conveyancing firms are on the First Direct conveyancing panel. Click here to locate a Hendon conveyancing lawyer on the on the First Direct list of approved conveyancing firms.
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