FAQs : The Virgin Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find one who is on the Virgin conveyancing panel. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Virgin will not agree to this. Why was Virgin even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Virgin conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Virgin of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Virgin then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Virgin.
Are there any apps to help search for a local solicitor on the Virgin conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 kilometers to meet the solicitor.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. 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 Virgin solicitor panel.
I would like to get my former partner taken off the mortgage deeds. Can Virgin really insist on which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but Virgin then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Virgin solicitors panel
Is there a list of Virgin panel conveyancers on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Virgin have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Virgin or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Virgin will tell you what documents they want. Virgin will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Virgin will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
My offer on house has been accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What should be my next step? When should I get the mortgage app going with Virgin?
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 Virgin 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 Virgin and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.