FAQs for the JPMorgan Solicitor Panel from members of the public
What is the rationale as to why all property lawyers aren't included on the JPMorgan Conveyancing panel?
JPMorgan and other mortgage companies normally imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing solicitors on their panel. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that JPMorgan have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of JPMorgan Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, Conveyancing is not their speciality? To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime; probably not.
Can you clarify something for me?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from JPMorgan was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6 months + 3. My lawyer has advised that as she is on the JPMorgan conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are no longer acceptable to the lender.
A precondition to being on the JPMorgan approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on JPMorgan)which states that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to JPMorgan.
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the JPMorgan conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the JPMorgan 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 JPMorgan 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 JPMorgan solicitor panel.
I was supposed to move into my flat last Thursday. My solicitor is on the JPMorgan conveyancing panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed JPMorgan of their new address. JPMorgan is now refusing to release my 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 JPMorgan branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as JPMorgan do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have telephoned JPMorgan on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the JPMorgan 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?
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for JPMorgan. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that JPMorgan 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 JPMorgan 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, but there is a chain. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties in the pipeline. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What should be my next step? When should I get the mortgage app going with JPMorgan?
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 JPMorgan 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 JPMorgan and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.
