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approved by Rooftop Mortgages

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Rooftop Mortgages list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Rooftop Mortgages Ltd Conveyancing Panel

Q and A’s regarding the Rooftop Mortgages Solicitor Panel

Is there a reason why all UK lawyers are not on the Rooftop Mortgages Solicitor panel?
Pre- 2008 most lenders had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 conducted a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors that you are dealing with. Consequently, lenders have regularly sought more information from law firms about their operations and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of transactions. Many firms that have been excluded from lender panels have 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Such firms were never going to meet the criteria of volume of transactions the lenders required.
Can you help?. For no fault of my lawyer but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Rooftop Mortgages was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the Rooftop Mortgages conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are now out of date.
A precondition to being on the Rooftop Mortgages approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Rooftop Mortgages)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Rooftop Mortgages.
I need to find a Rooftop Mortgages panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Rooftop Mortgages panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Rooftop Mortgages to find out which solicitors in Rooftop Mortgages are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Rooftop Mortgages conveyancing panel in order to deal with redeeming my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Rooftop Mortgages 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.
Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Rooftop Mortgages. Solicitors have been appointed? What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Rooftop Mortgages?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Rooftop Mortgages conducted the survey? Have you advised Rooftop Mortgages as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Rooftop Mortgages conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Rooftop Mortgages on numerous occasions and told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Rooftop Mortgages conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Rooftop Mortgages. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Rooftop Mortgages will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Rooftop Mortgages to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on a house. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 225. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me to say that they were not on the Rooftop Mortgages conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Rooftop Mortgages panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.