The Mortgage Lender Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions
from members of the public
I am selling my apartment and the EA has just e-mailed to warn that the purchasers are appointing a new solicitor. I am told that this is due to the fact that The Mortgage Lender will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a leading lender only engage with specific lawyers?
UK lenders 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 more than 15 years.
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.
My son-in-law is about to exchange on a new build apartment with a mortgage from The Mortgage Lender. His lawyer has said that there is a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the The Mortgage Lender conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when asked.
The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.
The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the The Mortgage Lender conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
Whilst your website is a good idea there are many lawyers listed near Newcastle on the The Mortgage Lender conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for The Mortgage Lender ?
We do not recommend specific firms as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
I was supposed to complete on my flat last Thursday. My lawyer’s firm is on the The Mortgage Lender solicitors panel but has changed address in the past couple of months and had not informed The Mortgage Lender of their new address. The Mortgage Lender has locked down the release of mortgage funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. 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 The Mortgage Lender branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as The Mortgage Lender do lawyers 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.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the The Mortgage Lender panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always suggest that you speak with the solicitor handling your conveyancing
Can I register a complaint to The Mortgage Lender about the lawyers being on the The Mortgage Lender conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to The Mortgage Lender. Every solicitor firm 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.
