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approved by Platform HL
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Platform HL list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Platform Home Loans Ltd Conveyancing Panel
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How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find one who is on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel. 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.
Our lawyer has uncovered a legal deficiency with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Platform Home Loans?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Platform Home Loans are the client. A precondition to being on the Platform Home Loans approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Platform Home Loans). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Platform Home Loans can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I see that you have a post code search directory identifying solicitors on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my own conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
My house is up for sale and I have a buyer. Does my solicitor have to be on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
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 Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel requirements are different to Platform Home Loans’s conveyancing panel requirements.
Is it common for Platform Home Loans to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Lenders such as Platform Home Loans can withdraw their mortgage offer although this is unusual. should Platform Home Loans withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are various possible reasons but here are 5 examples:
- Platform Home Loans may amend or withdraw an offer if the Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel solicitor is unable to confirm compliance with any of the conditions of the mortgage offer or if any of the terms of the mortgage offer cannot be satisfied
- If the financial circumstances of the borrower have changed to the detriment and the Platform Home Loans has been notified
- Amendments if purchase price adjusted and the loan to value limits exceeded by this. Please note that Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel solicitors would be obliged to notify Platform Home Loans of a change in the price of the property.
- Where to proceed with the Mortgage offer would be unlawful
- If the lender reasonably believe that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is insolvent or is about to become insolvent or has or will have a petition presented or if any one or all enter into any arrangement with their creditors generally or if any one or all should suffer a material change in their financial circumstances
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Platform Home Loans conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Platform Home Loans about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors 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 addressed 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.