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Virgin’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so your best bet is just to check with the firms you are getting quotes from whether they are on it. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Virgin will allow to act for them.

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are taking a mortgage with Virgin your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Virgin’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Virgin. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.

Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this page. 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 Virgin solicitor panel.

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Virgin conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist

Lenders such as Virgin can withdraw their mortgage offer although this is unusual. should Virgin withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are various possible reasons but here are a number of examples:

• Where information comes to Virgin ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend

• If the financial circumstances of the borrower have changed to the detriment and the Virgin has been notified

• If the borrower informs Virgin of a change in security address

• Following advice from the valuer on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion

• Where the lender has to take account a recent change in taxation

You must advise Virgin in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Virgin’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent 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 Virgin directly. You need not do this via a Virgin conveyancing panel firm.

Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Virgin. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Virgin 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 Virgin to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.