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My Conveyancer is not on the ASTRA mortgages Approved Panel. Can I still continue with my preferred solicitor even though they are not on the ASTRA mortgages list of approved lawyers?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a ASTRA mortgages mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by ASTRA mortgages. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
Our lawyer has discovered a legal deficiency with the lease for the property we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer says that as he is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or ASTRA mortgages?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and ASTRA mortgages are the client. A precondition to being on the ASTRA mortgages approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on ASTRA mortgages). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that ASTRA mortgages can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
Do I have to have a meeting at the offices of the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Manchester
so that I can pop in to their offices if required.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for ASTRA mortgages undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.
I was scheduled to move into my dream home two days ago. My lawyer’s firm is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel but has changed address in the past couple of months and had not advised ASTRA mortgages of their new address. ASTRA mortgages is now refusing to release my funds until such time as their systems are up to date with the correct details.
This is a rare situation indeed. Most lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local ASTRA mortgages branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel?
A selection of banks and building societies now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation 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 firms wishing to join their approved list of firms.
I have had an offer accepted on a house I spoke to a solicitor recommended by my uncle and he advised retaining a solicitor approved by ASTRA mortgages. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked ASTRA mortgages if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. ASTRA mortgages suggested that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of ASTRA mortgages 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask ASTRA mortgages for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet ASTRA mortgages’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to ASTRA mortgages. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
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Transfer of Equity for ASTRA mortgagesPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors