Examples of recent questions relating to the Hodge Life Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
I appointed a solicitor to conduct the legal paperwork on my house purchase 5 weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Hodge Life. The law firm confirmed to me that they are on Hodge Life conveyancing panel and advised me their panel number. Hodge Life then ,via my broker advised that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What do I do from here? Should I appoint a new solicitor listed on the conveyancing panel for Hodge Life?
The answer depends on whether you still have confidence in the said solicitors and how long it will take for the firm to be reinstated on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Hodge Life as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
I am buying a newly constructed apartment and my lawyer is telling me that she is duty bound to disclose incentives from the developer as her practice is on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange and I would rather not prolong 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 Hodge Life approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Hodge Life). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near Leeds on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel. Can you recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for Hodge Life ?
We do not recommend specific firms as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
My aunt passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the house. The house had a relatively small loan remaining of approximately £4500. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Hodge Life , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Hodge Life will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Hodge Life conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Hodge Life mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Do conveyancing solicitors on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
In the main there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their service
The for formalities of my remortgage has taken place with a mortgage from Hodge Life. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about Hodge Life. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Hodge Life branches or the Customer Care Team at Hodge Life head office. We understand that complaints to Hodge Life are resolved very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
I was told four weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed
to by Hodge Life. Is it usual for Hodge Life to only issue the offer once my
solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Hodge Life to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Hodge Life conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
