I am getting a mortgage with Halifax. I intend to employ the services of a Licensed Conveyancer in North Ockendon. Does the Halifax Conveyancing panel allow for conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

At what point will exchange of contracts happen for residential conveyancing in North Ockendon and am I required to be at the conveyancers office?

Where you are near to our conveyancing solicitors in North Ockendon you are welcome to come in to sign documents. However, the firms we recommend provide countrywide coverage for conveyancing and provide as equally detailed and professional a job for you when communicating with you by post or email. The signing of the contract is not when everything is set in stone. A signed contract is necessary for the conveyancer to officially exchange when the time is right, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The exchange process is is usually a five minute process, although where an extended "chain" is in the mix, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in North Ockendon)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

When it comes to lenders such as Leeds Building Society, do North Ockendon lawyers have to pay a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are unaware of any bank fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

I currently have a mortgage with Yorkshire BS for my property in North Ockendon. Conveyancing was finalised some time ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Yorkshire BS?

Yorkshire BS must be informed of your intention prior to renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Yorkshire BS’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Yorkshire BS will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Yorkshire BS directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel lawyer.

I had an offer accepted on an apartment in North Ockendon on 2/7/2025, 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 HSBC and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?

Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for HSBC to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the HSBC conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

I have been told that property searches are the primary reason for obstruction in North Ockendon house deals. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released conclusions of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the top 10 causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Searches are unlikely to feature in any delay in conveyancing in North Ockendon.

My wife and I have instructed a North Ockendon conveyancing solicitor for our house purchase (FTB’s) and have spotted in the terms and conditions that they are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Am I right to be worried or is that the norm with conveyancing practitioner?

We can't see why they should be. Most conveyancer don't lend money. They will be governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who have strict conditions regulating amounts held on client account.