FAQs for the Bluestone Mortgages Solicitor Panel from members of the public
I have just been informed by my estate agent that my property lawyer is not on the Bluestone Mortgages Conveyancing panel. How can I be certain that this is indeed the case?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your lawyer directly. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the the approved Bluestone Mortgages solicitor panel.
I am purchasing a newly built flat and my conveyancer is telling me that she has to disclose incentives from the developer as her firm is on the Bluestone Mortgages conveyancing panel. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to sign contracts and I would rather not delay the conveyancing. is my lawyer taking the correct approach?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Bluestone Mortgages approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Bluestone Mortgages). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Bluestone Mortgages conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Bluestone 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 Bluestone 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 Bluestone Mortgages solicitor panel.
I was expecting to move into my first house two days ago. My lawyer’s firm is on the Bluestone Mortgages solicitors panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not advised Bluestone Mortgages of their new address. Bluestone Mortgages is now refusing to release my funds until such time as their systems are up to date with the correct details.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. Most lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Bluestone Mortgages branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
I had instructed online solicitors based in London who are on the Bluestone Mortgages solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Bluestone Mortgages mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Bluestone 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 Bluestone Mortgages but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Bluestone Mortgages will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I have today made my last payment due on mortgage with Bluestone Mortgages. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Bluestone Mortgages panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Bluestone Mortgages mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Bluestone Mortgages mortgage from the register. Bluestone Mortgages,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
but are not moving to another property
where the Bluestone Mortgages has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Bluestone Mortgages has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Bluestone Mortgages mortgage has been paid off.
I am selling my house. I had a double glazing fitted in month 7 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, Bluestone Mortgages are being a right pain. The solicitor who is on the Bluestone Mortgages conveyancing panel is recommending indemnity insurance as a solution but Bluestone Mortgages are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Bluestone Mortgages have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Bluestone Mortgages have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Bluestone Mortgages may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.