Frequently asked questions relating to the April Mortgages Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
It has come to my attention via my mortgage adviser that my solicitor is not on the April Mortgages Conveyancing panel. How can I be sure that this is correct?
You need to contact your conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the the approved April Mortgages solicitor panel.
We are only a couple days away from an exchange and my parents having sent the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender April Mortgages. Apparently, being on the April Mortgages conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform April Mortgages if the balance of the mortgage advance is coming from anyone other than me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with April 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 April Mortgages if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I need to find a April Mortgages panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a April Mortgages panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to April Mortgages to find out which solicitors in April 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
The firm that I appointed last week on my purchase in Hendon has without warning shut down. I chose them because I had to have a lawyer on the April Mortgages conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £175 for searches. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will 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 April Mortgages 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
I had instructed online conveyancers based in Cardiff who are on the April Mortgages solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £150 for dealing with the April Mortgages mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by April 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 April Mortgages but by your lawyers. Some firms on the April Mortgages will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I have a mortgage with April Mortgages. My uncle retired last week and wants to pay off the mortgage left on the property. After April Mortgages is paid, I want to transfer the property to my mother's name; How long does the process take? Do we need two separate solicitors on the April Mortgages conveyancing panel? I do not intend to live at the property once the April Mortgages mortgage is discharged.
Although you do need to retain the services of a lawyer they dont
need to be on the April Mortgages panel.
You will need a solicitor to draw up the transfer and
to deal with the Land Registry formalities. The only thing you need to
consider is that by selling at an undervalue so ask your lawyer about
the implications. There could be an inheritance tax issue if you die
within 7 years of this. As the property is your main residence you need
not pay CGT but you should speak with your accountants in any event.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with April Mortgages. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with April Mortgages you will need to appoint a solicitor on the April Mortgages conveyancing panel.