Find an Approved Solicitor on the Newcastle Building Society
Conveyancing Panel
FAQs : The Newcastle Building Society Conveyancing Panel
I am progressing with the sale of my maisonette and the estate agent has just called to say that the buyers are switching solicitor. The excuse is that Newcastle Building Society will only work with property lawyers on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a leading mortgage company only deal with specific solicitors?
Lenders have always had panels 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 point to the increase 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 hearing daily from firms 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.
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 Newcastle Building Society will not agree to this. Why was Newcastle Building Society even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Newcastle Building Society of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Newcastle Building Society then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Newcastle Building Society.
How do I find a local solicitor on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 20 miles to meet the conveyancer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Newcastle Building Society solicitor panel.
We're in London, First time buyers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Newcastle Building Society , but our solicitor is on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
How can we tell if a solicitor on the Newcastle Building Society panel is any good?
seeking recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the lawyer conducting your transaction
We have a mortgage agreed in principle with Newcastle Building Society. Solicitors have been instructed? What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Newcastle Building Society?
There is no definitive answer here. Have Newcastle Building Society done the survey? Have you advised Newcastle Building Society as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued
Can I register a complaint to Newcastle Building Society about the lawyers being on the Newcastle Building Society conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Newcastle Building Society. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this 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.