I plan on purchasing an apartment in Andover. My Conveyancer has never been on on the mortgage company approved list. Can I still appoint my Andover conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the bank panel?

Various options include

• Proceed with your preferred Andover solicitor but your mortgage company will need to instruct a conveyancer from their approved panel. This will result in additional cost together with potential delay.
• Get a new conveyancing practitioner to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
• Convince your conveyancing practitioner to do everything possible to get listed on the bank’s panel of solicitors

My lawyer has discovered a a problem with the lease for the property we are purchasing in Andover. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our conveyancing practitioner says that he must check that the bank is willing to move forward with this solution. Are we the client or is the mortgage company ?

Regardless of the fact that you have a mortgage offer from the bank does not mean to say that the property will meet their conditions for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. You and the lender are the client. The appropriate lender provisions must be adhered to.

My wife and I own a terraced Victorian property in Andover. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Accord Mortgages Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the matching property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Andover and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the position with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.

Is it simple use your search app to choose a conveyancing lawyer in Andover on the authorised to act for my lender?

Step one is to pick a mortgage company such as Barclays , Leeds Building Society or Barclays Direct then choose your location a common one being Andover. Conveyancing practices in Andover and across England and Wales will then be shown.

I have noted on numerous online forums that when choosing a conveyancing firm they must be approved by your mortgage company. I am first time buyer with but I have an AIP from HSBC and I already have a high street conveyancing solicitor in Andover on standby. Can Santander need an approved lawyer to be selected? If so, where do I find that list so I can appoint a conveyancing lawyer in Andover?

You should choose a solicitor that is on the Santander panel. Just ring your chosen Andover conveyancing lawyer to check if they are on the Santander panel. If they are not on the panel you have a couple of choices open to you here:

• Complete the deal with your preferred Andover solicitor but Santander will undoubtedly appoint a lawyer from their approved list. This will result in additional charges together with potential frustration.
• Choose a new conveyancing practitioner to conduct the conveyancing, making sure they are on the Santander conveyancing panel.
• Convince your solicitor to pull out all the stops to get accepted on the Santander conveyancing panel.