Landmark Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public
I am selling my house and the estate agent has just e-mailed to advise that the purchasers are appointing a new law firm. The excuse is that Landmark Mortgages will only engage with solicitors on their approved list. Why would a leading lender only deal with specific law firms?
Banks have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Santander, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for decades.
Lenders blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
Our solicitor has informed me that he requires proof of ID documents stating that this forms part of his requirements as a conveyancer on the Landmark Mortgages Conveyancing panel. Is this right?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with Landmark Mortgages your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy Landmark Mortgages
I need to find a Landmark Mortgages panel solicitor in Belfast. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Landmark Mortgages panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Landmark Mortgages to find out which solicitors in Landmark Mortgages are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
We're in London, First time buyers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Landmark Mortgages , but our solicitor is on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
Is it the case that all conveyancing solicitors on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel regulated by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Landmark Mortgages. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Landmark Mortgages you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel.
My offer was accepted on an apartment on the 12th February 2014, valuation was booked 3 days after, all came back fine. Property lawyer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Landmark Mortgages and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel. Are Landmark Mortgages entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Landmark Mortgages to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Landmark Mortgages conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.