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Mortgage Express (No 2) Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers

I am selling my house and the EA has just called to say that the purchasers are swapping conveyancer. I am told that this is due to the fact that Mortgage Express (No 2) will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a leading mortgage company only deal with specific solicitors?
Mortgage companies have always had an approved set of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as HSBC, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 15 years.

Lenders blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

Our property lawyer has requested from me personal identification documents stating that this forms part of his legal duty as a solicitor on the Mortgage Express (No 2) Conveyancing panel. Is this right?
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 Mortgage Express (No 2) your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy Mortgage Express (No 2)
I require the services of a Mortgage Express (No 2) panel solicitor in Stirling. Could you help me?
It is not clear why you need a Mortgage Express (No 2) panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Mortgage Express (No 2) to find out which solicitors in Mortgage Express (No 2) 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
I am considering mortgaging my apartment does my lawyer have to be on the Mortgage Express (No 2) Conveyancing panel?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but Mortgage Express (No 2) will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
is it true that all conveyancing solicitors on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Mortgage Express (No 2) 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).
We expect to receive a DIP from Mortgage Express (No 2) 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 Express (No 2) recommend a solicitor on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Mortgage Express (No 2) through the process.
Mortgage Express (No 2) 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 Mortgage Express (No 2) or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Mortgage Express (No 2) will tell you what documents they want. Mortgage Express (No 2) 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. Mortgage Express (No 2) 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.