I am not well enough to travel far from Heathfield. What is the rationale as to why all Heathfield conveyancers are not on all mortgage company panels?

Pre- 2008 most banks demonstrated an attitude to risk which differs from the current day. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 conducted a thematic review into fraud which concluded: know the lawyers on your panel. Accordingly, lenders have subsequently requiredmore data from law firms concerning their processes and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such as completing a minimum amount of transactions. Thousands of law practices have found themselves excluded from lender panels even though they had an exemplary disciplinary record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Many firms were never going to satisfy the criteria of volume of transactions the lenders required.

Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Heathfield. My lender is Accord Mortgages

Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 23/2/2025, the requirements read as follows :

I have recentlyfound out that Wolstenholmes have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Heathfield for a purchase of a freehold house 9 months ago. How can I establish that the property is registered correctly in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest 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 Heathfield conveyancing specialists.

We're FTB’s - agreed a price, yet the property agent told us that the seller will only go ahead if we appoint the agent's chosen conveyancers as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a family conveyancer who is accustomed to conveyancing in Heathfield

It is improbable the owners are driving this. Should the owner require ‘a quick sale', alienating a motivated purchaser is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Contact the sellers directly and make sure they understand (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with finances in place © you are unencumbered (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to instruct your own,trusted Heathfield conveyancing firm - as opposed tothe ones that will provide their negotiator at the agency a kickback or meet his conveyancing thresholds pre-set by senior management.

My partner and I soon to complete on the purchase a house in Heathfield but as a result of wreckage from the recent storms I have negotiated compensation from the seller of four thousand pounds in the form of a adjustment in the price. I had intended this to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process however my mortgage company will not agree to this. Should they have been approached?

Your conveyancer being on the mortgage company conveyancing panel is required to inform the bank of any changes to the purchase figure. In the event that you did not allow your conveyancer to report the reduction to your lender then they would need to refrain from acting for you and the mortgage company.