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

Find an Approved Solicitor on the First Direct Conveyancing Panel

First Direct Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers

I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the First Direct panel of conveyancing solicitors. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
Our conveyancer has uncovered a problem with the lease for the property we are buying. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer says that as he is on the First Direct conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is First Direct?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from First Direct does not mean to say that the property will be meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the CML Handbook Requirements. You and First Direct are the client. The appropriate lender requirements have to be complied with by the First Direct conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and First Direct
How up to date is your search tool for the First Direct conveyancing panel? Do First Direct send you an updated list?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the First Direct conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from First Direct directly.
I am attempting to get my former partner taken off the mortgage deeds. Can First Direct really tell me which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but First Direct then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the First Direct solicitors panel
Do most banks operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the First Direct conveyancing panel requirements are different to First Direct’s conveyancing panel criteria.
My offer was accepted on an apartment on the 7th February 2014, valuation was booked 4 days after, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to First Direct and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the First Direct conveyancing panel. Are First Direct entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for First Direct to deal with your lawyers application to be on the First Direct conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
My husband and I are remortgaging a garden flat in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon need to begiven the go-ahead. My brokersuggested that we enquire that the conveyancing practitioner in Hendon is on the First Direct solicitors panel. Is this right?
Not all Hendon conveyancing firms are on the First Direct conveyancing panel. 5 people a month use our search tool to search for a Hendon conveyancing lawyer on the on the First Direct approved list of lawyers.