We see that you have a post code search directory identifying firms on the Barclays conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Bude?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Barclays conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Bude.

I have justfound out that Wolstenholmes have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Bude for a purchase of a leasehold flat 10 months ago. How can I establish that the property is registered correctly in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest way to check if the premises is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Bude conveyancing specialists.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Bude in advance of appointing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the house. Our surveyor has said that some lenders may not issue a mortgage on such a home.

It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different instructions for example to Halifax. Should you wish to call us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Bude. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

I was advised by a few selling agents in Bude to select a property lawyer on your site. Is there a financial inducement for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers rather than another?

We refuse to give any referral fee for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

My 20yr old son is about to join the property ladder, he had his mortgage in principle. One the offer was accepted on apartment we telephoned the mortgage institution to progress the mortgage application. We were shocked to hear that mortgage companies do not accept all property lawyer, they need to be on their approved list, is this right?

Lenders ordinarily imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing practices on their approved list of lawyers. A common example of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that banks have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any Bude lawyer on their panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, conveyancing is not their speciality. To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime? Unlikely.