Me and my husband are acquiring a flat in Billingham. My lawyer is not on the mortgage company conveyancing panel. Can I still use my Billingham conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the lender panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?

You have a number of choices open to you here

• Complete the purchase with your existing Billingham lawyer but your mortgage company will undoubtedly appoint a conveyancing practitioner on their approved list. This will result in additional charges and probable frustration.
• Appoint a fresh conveyancing practitioner to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
• Convince your solicitor to attempt to join the mortgage company panel

Why do I have to pay up front for my conveyancing in Billingham?

Where you are retaining lawyers for conveyancing in Billingham your solicitor will ask you put them with funds to cover the search fees. Normally this is requested to cover the fees of the Local Authority Search. When the down payment is payable against the total price then this should be required shortly prior to exchange of contracts. The closing balance that is due should be transferred shortly before completion.

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Billingham. My lender is Accord Mortgages

Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 2/3/2025, the requirements read as follows :

How does conveyancing in Billingham differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Billingham approach us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because house builders in Billingham tend to buy the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Billingham or who has acted in the same development.

We had our mortgage approved on Tuesday with our bank. We instructed a high street conveyancer in Billingham yesterday. This morning, our financial adviser phoned to advise us that the lender said that we cannot use our solicitor as they aren't on their 'approved list'. As novices, we did not have a clue that the lender had a say Is this usual?

You are at liberty to choose any property lawyer you want to appoint for your conveyancing in Billingham but if they are not on the your lender's panel you would have to fork out an extra fee so your bank can retain their own solicitors as well to protect their interest. It may be conceivable that your preferred conveyancing firm to get included on to the bank list of approved firms. You can use internet search facilities including lenderpanel.com to find a conveyancing solcitor in Billingham on the mortgage company panel. You can go into your high street lender branch in Billingham. They will know some good conveyancing solicitors in Billingham on the mortgage company panel.