I am selling my home in North Finchley and the estate agent has just telephoned to advise that the purchasers are switching solicitor. The reason given is that the lender will only engage with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a big named lender only deal with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose for their conveyancing in North Finchley ?
UK lenders have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as HSBC, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 15 years.
Lenders blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to maintain. Banks tend not to reveal how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your buyers are not going to have any sway in the decision.
We are purchasing our first house. The conveyancer has contact usto see if we want to order extra conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's needed for conveyancing in North Finchley
The type of North Finchley conveyancing searches depends primarily on the premises, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your knowledge of the region and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What matters is that you properly comprehend what information the searches could give you. You may then make a decision if you personally think you need that search. Should you be unsure, ask the property lawyer to recommend.
I am assisting my aunt sell her house in North Finchley. Does the conveyancing solicitor arrange the energy assessment or it is for the owner to coordinate?
Following the demise of Home Information Packs, energy assessments was kept a mandatory component of selling a house. An energy performance certificate should be commissioned prior to the property being placed on the market. It is not a task that lawyers ordinarily organise. Where you are using a North Finchley conveyancing solicitor they might help arrange energy assessments due to their relationships with reputable North Finchley energy assessors
We are getting the release of further monies on our home loan from Bank of Ireland as we want to conduct renovations to our home in North Finchley. Are we obliged to select a high street North Finchley solicitor on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel to handle the paperwork?
Bank of Ireland would not normally require firms on their conveyancing panel to deal with the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel.
My offer was accepted on a property in North Finchley on 11/7/2025, valuation was booked 4 days after, all came back fine. Property lawyer instructed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Leeds Building Society and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Leeds Building Society to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing lawyer in North Finchley for my house move. Is there any facility to see a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
One may review presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions arising from investigations started on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could recorded call for training purposes.
What can I expect to pay for conveyancing in North Finchley?
The amount you are levied for North Finchley conveyancing charges are likely to be calculated at:
- a standard charge; or
- on a time spent basis (i.e. the time spent on the particular case).
These days you seldom hear of North Finchley conveyancing practices invoice on an hourly basis