Examples of recent questions relating to the Aldermore Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public
I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Aldermore Bank panel of conveyancing solicitors. Is it advisable to appoint a new law firm?
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.
Can you help?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Aldermore Bank was date stamped random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6 months + 3. My solicitor informs me that as she is on the Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Aldermore Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Aldermore Bank)which states 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 Aldermore Bank.
I have been searching for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be confident that all the law firms that are listed on your site are on the Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel?
The law firms listed on our site have assured us via an online form that they are on the Aldermore Bank panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Aldermore Bank panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel is not accurate.
My conveyancers in Leeds have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Aldermore Bank. Is it case that being on the Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Aldermore Bank Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Aldermore Bank directly.
Do the majority of 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 Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel requirements are different to Aldermore Bank’s conveyancing panel criteria.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date . I have telephoned Aldermore Bank on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Aldermore Bank 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?
As long as the conveyancer is on the Aldermore Bank panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Aldermore Bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Aldermore Bank 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 Aldermore Bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
My offer on house has been accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? When should I get the mortgage app going with Aldermore Bank?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the Aldermore Bank conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with Aldermore Bank and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.