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approved by Astra Mtgs

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Astra Mtgs list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the ASTRA mortgages Conveyancing Panel

Examples of recent questions relating to the ASTRA mortgages Conveyancing Panel

A conveyancer I had intended to instruct on a remortgage said she will levy higher legal fees if my lender is because of their unusual legal requirements. Will I regret using ASTRA mortgages? Any comments will be appreciated
ASTRA mortgages conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders. It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender. It is not clear if your lawyer is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as ASTRA mortgages will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
I am purchasing a new build apartment and my lawyer is telling me that she has to disclose incentives from the developer as her practice is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel. The Estate Agents are hassling me to exchange contracts and I dont want to delay the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. 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 Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I am planning to acquire a house and need a conveyancing solicitor in London who is on the ASTRA mortgages solicitor. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for ASTRA mortgages . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
We're in Wales, First time buyers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is ASTRA mortgages , but our lawyer is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
I am selling my apartment. I had a double glazing fitted in month 6 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, ASTRA mortgages are being a right pain. The solicitor who is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but ASTRA mortgages are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do ASTRA mortgages have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that ASTRA mortgages have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why ASTRA mortgages may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having made sure that they are on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or Having read lots of mortgage guides,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
ASTRA mortgages will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually ASTRA mortgages 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. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your 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 postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with ASTRA mortgages you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.
My ex -wife’s name is on the ASTRA mortgages mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the ASTRA mortgages mortgage in order to sell?
As regards the ASTRA mortgages mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of ASTRA mortgages in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.