FAQs : The Leeds Building Society Conveyancing Panel
from members of the public
I appointed a firm of solicitors to carry out on my purchase three weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Leeds Building Society. The solicitors confirmed to me that they are on Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel and provided me their panel number. Leeds Building Society then called me to say that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What happens next? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the approved panel for Leeds Building Society?
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 Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Leeds Building Society as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
We are nearing an exchange and my mum and dad having transferred the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender Leeds Building Society. Apparently, being on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Leeds Building Society if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Leeds Building Society to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to Leeds Building Society if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Are there any apps to help find a local solicitor on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 kilometers to meet the solicitor.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Leeds Building Society solicitor panel.
I am buying a new build flat and getting a mortgage with Leeds Building Society. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel in your location.
Do the majority of banks operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel requirements are different to Leeds Building Society’s conveyancing panel criteria.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Leeds Building Society be concerned
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Leeds Building Society your lawyer must to check the Leeds Building Society conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Leeds Building Society . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Leeds Building Society where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 200. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Leeds Building Society panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.