Find a Law Firm
approved by Mortgage Agency Services
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Mortgage Agency Services list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancing Panel
Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers
I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Mortgage Agency Services panel of conveyancing solicitors. Is it practical to instruct different lawyers?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
I am purchasing a newly built apartment and my lawyer is advising me that she has to disclose incentives from the developer as her firm is on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange and I would rather not prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Mortgage Agency Services approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Mortgage Agency Services). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I require the services of a Mortgage Agency Services panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
It is not clear why you need a Mortgage Agency Services panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Mortgage Agency Services to find out which solicitors in Mortgage Agency Services are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. At a fee of one pound per month it is not expensive to register on the site
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my solicitor is expelled from the Mortgage Agency Services Solicitor panel in advance of completion?
The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Mortgage Agency Services. Solicitors have been appointed? What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Mortgage Agency Services?
There is no definitive answer here. Have Mortgage Agency Services done the survey? Have you advised Mortgage Agency Services as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued
We were going to get a DIP from Mortgage Agency Services this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the Mortgage Agency Services recommend a solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Mortgage Agency Services through the process.
I currently have a mortgage with with Mortgage Agency Services. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. In the event that I decide to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Mortgage Agency Services?
Your original mortgage agreement with Mortgage Agency Services will provide that you need their approval in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Mortgage Agency Services’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies 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 Mortgage Agency Services directly. You need not do this via a Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel firm.