Intelligent Finance Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public
My fiance and I are purchasing a 1 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Intelligent Finance. We would like to retain our solicitor but Intelligent Finance says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Intelligent Finance panel solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Intelligent Finance
Our conveyancer has uncovered a legal deficiency with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a solution. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer has advised that as he is on the Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Intelligent Finance?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Intelligent Finance are the client. A precondition to being on the Intelligent Finance approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Intelligent Finance). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Intelligent Finance can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Intelligent Finance 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 Intelligent Finance 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 Intelligent Finance solicitor panel.
I was supposed to complete on my dream home last Thursday. My solicitor is on the Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed Intelligent Finance of their new address. Intelligent Finance has locked down the release of mortgage funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is a rare situation indeed. The majority of 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 Intelligent Finance branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
I have today made my last payment due on mortgage with Intelligent Finance. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Intelligent Finance panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm
If you have finished paying off your Intelligent Finance 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 Intelligent Finance mortgage from the register. Intelligent Finance,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 Intelligent Finance has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Intelligent Finance has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Intelligent Finance mortgage has been paid off.
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Intelligent Finance about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. 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.
My brother and I are taking a long lease of a 1st floor apartment in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to beappointed. My agentrecommended that we make sure that the conveyancer in Hendon is on the Intelligent Finance list of approved conveyancing firms. Is this right?
It is not that case that all Hendon conveyancing practices are on the Intelligent Finance conveyancing panel. Click here to search for a Hendon conveyancing firm on the on the Intelligent Finance approved list of lawyers.