Kensington Mortgage Solicitor Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public
My mortgage broker has says he needs my solicitor’s panel reference for the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I obtain this. I have e-mailed my local Kensington Mortgage branch but they don't know it.
the sensible thing to do is ask for this information from your solicitor. A law firm is likely to keep a file or database of lender panel information which would include, if applicable their conveyancing panel details for Kensington Mortgage.
Our lawyer has discovered a defect with the lease for the flat we are buying. The other side have offered title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor says that as he is on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Kensington Mortgage?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from Kensington Mortgage does not mean to say that the property will be meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the CML Handbook Requirements. You and Kensington Mortgage are the client. The appropriate lender requirements have to be complied with by the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and Kensington Mortgage
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Kensington Mortgage 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 Kensington Mortgage 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 Kensington Mortgage solicitor panel.
Please explain the implications if my solicitor is removed from the Kensington Mortgage Conveyancing panel prior to the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
The first thing to point out is that, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Kensington Mortgage do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?
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.
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Kensington Mortgage about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get 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 properly dealt with 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.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having checked that they are on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
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Having digested plenty of house buying,I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Kensington Mortgage conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Kensington Mortgage will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Kensington Mortgage will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey.
You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
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Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Kensington Mortgage you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.