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approved by Darlington Building Society
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Darlington Building Society list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
How does my firm apply to be on the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Frequently asked questions relating to the Darlington Building Society Conveyancing Panel
My Conveyancer has never been on on the Darlington Building Society Approved Panel. Can I still retain my preferred solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the Darlington Building Society panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a Darlington Building Society mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by Darlington Building Society. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
I am purchasing a brand new flat and my solicitor is informing me that she has to disclose incentives from the seller as her practice is on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and I would rather not prolong matters. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the Darlington Building Society panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Darlington Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Darlington Building Society). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 miles 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 Darlington Building Society solicitor panel.
The lawyers that I appointed last week on my house acquisition in Brighton has suddenly closed. They were on acting for me because I needed a firm on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel and my preferred lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £175 for searches. What should be my next steps?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to assist
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage agreed with Darlington Building Society. 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 Darlington Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have telephoned Darlington Building Society on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Darlington Building Society. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Darlington Building Society will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Darlington Building Society to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on a house. My mortgage broker suggested a solicitor I paid an upfront payment of 200. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Darlington 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 Darlington 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.