FAQs for the Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
A conveyancer my fiance and I wanted to use for conveyancing on a purchase said she will levy higher legal fees if my lender is due to their unusual legal requirements. Will I regret using Accord Mortgages? Is Accord Mortgages conveyancing so much more difficult?
Accord Mortgages conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders.
It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender.
It is not clear if your lawyer is on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as Accord Mortgages will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
We are only a couple days away from an exchange and my mum and dad having transferred the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my lender Accord Mortgages. I am advised that, being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Accord Mortgages if the balance of the mortgage advance is coming from anyone other than me. I advised the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the home loan so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Accord Mortgages to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to Accord Mortgages if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Accord Mortgages approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Accord Mortgages solicitor panel.
I am purchasing a semi-detached house and getting a mortgage with Accord Mortgages. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel in your location.
I had instructed online conveyancers located in Bristol who are on the Accord Mortgages solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Accord Mortgages mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Accord Mortgages?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Accord Mortgages but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Accord Mortgages will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Accord Mortgages as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
Accord Mortgages do not ordinarily instruct firms on their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Accord Mortgages panel
Can I register a complaint to Accord Mortgages about the lawyers being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Accord Mortgages. 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 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.