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approved by LendInvest
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the LendInvest list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the LendInvest Conveyancing Panel
Q and A’s regarding the LendInvest Conveyancing Panel
A conveyancer my husband and I had intended to instruct on a remortgage said he will levy higher legal fees if my lender is because of their unusual legal requirements. Will I regret using LendInvest? Is LendInvest conveyancing so much more difficult?
LendInvest conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders.
It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender.
It is not clear if your lawyer is on the LendInvest conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as LendInvest will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
Much to my surprise my property lawyer is asking me for ID documents stating that this is part of his requirements as a solicitor on the LendInvest Solicitor panel. This is news to me - can I refuse?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with LendInvest your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy LendInvest
I note that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the LendInvest conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the LendInvest conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am attempting to get my ex-husband taken off the mortgage deeds. Can LendInvest really tell me which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but LendInvest then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the LendInvest solicitors panel
The mortgage over my property is with LendInvest. Conveyancing has been completed 12 months ago. If I am intending 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 LendInvest?
Your original mortgage agreement with LendInvest will provide that you need their approval in advance of renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of LendInvest’s mortgage conditions. It may be that LendInvest will permit you to let 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 LendInvest directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a LendInvest conveyancing panel firm.
Can I register a complaint to LendInvest about the lawyers being on the LendInvest conveyancing panel?
Complaining to LendInvest about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
I have instructed a lawyer having checked that they are on the LendInvest conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
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Having digested plenty of house buying,I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the LendInvest conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
LendInvest will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually LendInvest 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.
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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 LendInvest you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.