Do banks and building societies provide you with an approved list of Warkworth conveyancing solicitors? How do you know who is on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel?

Warkworth conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Virgin Money directly.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Clydesdale, do Warkworth solicitors have to pay a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

I had a mortgage agreed in principle with Bank of Ireland. Warkworth conveyancing practitioners have been instructed. How long does it take for Bank of Ireland to issue the offer to the property lawyer?

There is no definitive answer here. Have Bank of Ireland done the valuation? Have you informed Bank of Ireland as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.

Having read lots of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Warkworth solicitor - who is on the HSBC conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?

HSBC will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually HSBC will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your property lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Warkworth postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with HSBC, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Warkworth.

I moved into my home on 7 April and my personal details is yet to be registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Warkworth advises it should be formalised in less than a month. Are titles in Warkworth particularly slow to register?

There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Warkworth registration formalities. Rather than based on location, timescales can adjust subject to the party submitting the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any interested persons or bodies. At present roughly 80% of submission are fully dealt with in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be longer delays. Historically registration occurs once the new owner is living at the property therefore 'speed' is not typically an essential issue but where it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your solicitor can speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.

How do I use the search facility to select a conveyancing practitioner in Warkworth on the panel for my bank?

Step one is to pick a bank such as Birmingham Midshires, Barnsley Building Society or TSB then choose your preferred area a common one being Warkworth. Conveyancing organisations in Warkworth and nationally will then be listed.

My wife and I are FTB’s just having agreed a price on a property in Warkworth, and are about to get solicitors instructed. I have used the numerous comparison based websites and the fee estimates are from all over the the UK. Is it essential to have a Warkworth property lawyer local to your potential house? I am happy to do all the communicating electronically, but I am thinking at some stage we may be required to visit the property lawyer's office to sign documents?

Generally there is no need to attend the office of your conveyancing practitioner, they can send any relevant contracts to you, which you can sign and send back. Many buyers and sellers choose to use a locally based solicitor, but it is not essential for conveyancing in Warkworth.