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approved by Kensington Mortgage

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Kensington Mortgage list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Kensington Mortgage Company Ltd Conveyancing Panel

FAQs for the Kensington Mortgage Conveyancing Panel

My fiance and I are FTBs. Within the 48 hours our conveyancer has forwarded the sale agreement to sign with a detailed report in anticipation of exchanging contracts shortly. Kensington Mortgage have this morning contacted us to inform me that they have now hit a problem as our solicitor is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?
If you are buying a property with the assistance of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.

In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your property lawyers should contact Kensington Mortgage and see if they can apply for membership of the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable Kensington Mortgage will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Kensington Mortgage will not agree to this. Why was Kensington Mortgage even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Kensington Mortgage of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Kensington Mortgage then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Kensington Mortgage.
I have been looking for online conveyancing estimates. Can I be sure that all the practices that are identified on your directory are on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices on our directory have advised us that they are on the Kensington Mortgage panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Kensington Mortgage panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel is incorrect.
I am considering applying for a Kensington Mortgage mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 65 per cent loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Kensington Mortgage?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but Kensington Mortgage will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
Do most banks operate their own panel of solicitors?
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 Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel requirements are different to Kensington Mortgage’s conveyancing panel requirements.
Is it common for Kensington Mortgage to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Banks and Building Societies such as Kensington Mortgage can revoke their mortgage offer although this is unusual. If Kensington Mortgage 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 5 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 is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
  • If the solicitor on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel acting for the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor cannot comply with Kensington Mortgage ‘s instructions
Kensington Mortgage have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Kensington Mortgage or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Kensington Mortgage will tell you what documents they want. Kensington Mortgage will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Kensington Mortgage will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.