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approved by Family BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Family BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Frequently asked questions relating to the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Is there a reason why all property lawyers aren't included on the Family Building Society Solicitor panel?
Even though it may seem unfair for Family Building Society to restrict who can act for them from the public’s or solicitor’s point of view, the other side of the coin is that the lenders are becoming ever more anxious and feel the necessary need to protect them from mortgage fraud and other illegal activities. As a result of this concern Family Building Society have restricted their conveyancing panel to a manageable size. The Family Building Society lawyer panel is not the most restricted
My son is buying a new build apartment with a mortgage from Family Building Society. His conveyancer has advised him of a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. Who needs to receive the form?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked.
The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.
The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Family Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
I need to find a Family Building Society panel solicitor in Belfast. Can you assist?
It is not clear why you need a Family Building Society panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Family Building Society to find out which solicitors in Family Building Society are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. At a fee of one pound per month it is not expensive to register on the site
My grandfather passed away six months ago and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a relatively small loan left on it of around £4500. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Family Building Society , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Family Building Society will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Family Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Family Building Society mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Is it the case that all solicitors on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel overseen by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
My husband and I are spending time viewing apartments and am about to put in an offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I I am planning to take a mortgage with Family Building Society
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the estate agent. As you are getting a mortgage with Family Building Society , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel.
I have instructed a lawyer having made sure that they are on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
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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 Family Building Society conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Family Building Society will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Family Building Society 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.
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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 Family Building Society you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.