I had intended to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Parsons Green for our house move. Our broker informed us that our mortgage lenders Skipton Building Society won't deal with them. Surely this is unfair competition?

A decade ago most mortgage companies had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. Almost all Parsons Green conveyancing firms would have been on many mortgage company panels. The financial services regulator in 2010 conducted a thematic investigation into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors dealt with. Consequently, lenders are increasingly seeing more data from law firms about their operations and their employees as well as set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of conveyancing. Many Parsons Green conveyancing firms that have been excluded from lender panels have a 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Parsons Green is amongst the many locations where the lawyers showing on our search results are are authorised to act for Skipton Building Society.

Me and my partner are purchasing a property in Parsons Green. It might be a silly question but how we can trust a lawyer? At some point we will need to send money into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our monies?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

Is it correct that all Parsons Green CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing list of approved firms?

A selection of banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Barclays, do Parsons Green solicitors face a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

Will my lawyer be raising enquiries about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Parsons Green.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for solicitors dealing with homes in Parsons Green. Some people will acquire a property in Parsons Green, completely aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory insurance cover, or sell the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that can be carried out by the buyer or by their lawyers which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in Parsons Green. The conventional set of property information forms sent to a buyer’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual question of the vendor to discover whether the property has suffered from flooding. In the event that the residence has been flooded in past and is not notified by the owner, then a buyer could issue a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading reply. A purchaser’s conveyancers will also carry out an enviro report. This should reveal whether there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries should be carried out.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Parsons Green?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Parsons Green. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

My uncle has encouraged me to use his conveyancers in Parsons Green. Do I take his recommendation?

There are no two ways about it the ideal way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to seek recommendations from friends or relatives who have previously instructed the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.