I can't travel far from Soho. Is there a reason why all Soho conveyancers aren't included on all bank panels?

Pre- 2008 most lenders displayed an attitude to risk which differs from the current day. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 instigated a thematic review into mortgage fraud which in summary warned lenders: know the conveyancing practitioners on your panel. Accordingly, mortgage companies have since looked to extract more data from law firms about their operations and the staff who work for them and set certain criteria such as completing a minimum number of transactions. Hundreds of firms have found themselves removed from lender panels even though they had 100% healthy disciplinary record, no complaints and zero claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Many firms were never going to satisfy the minimum amount of transactions the mortgage companies required.

What is the first thing I need to know concerning purchase conveyancing in Soho?

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Soho and elsewhere in London is an adversarial experience. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is lots of room for conflict between you and others involved in the transaction. For instance, the seller, property agent and even potentially your lender. Appointing a solicitor for your conveyancing in Soho an important selection as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE person in the process whose interest is to act in your best interests and to keep you safe.

We are witnessing a definite increase of a "blame" culture- someone must be at fault for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you your first instinct should be to trust your solicitor above the other players when it comes to the legal assignment of property.

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our home are lost. The lawyers who handled the conveyancing in Soho 10 years ago are no longer around. What are my next steps?

You no longer need to hold title official documentation to prove you are the registered proprietor of land or property, as the Land Registry hold details of all registered land or property electronically.

My company is planning to take over a lease of a shop on a shopping parade. Can you recommend solicitors offering fixed fees for non-domestic conveyancing in Soho for under 2k?

We are happy to recommend firms who have well rounded knowledge of commercial conveyancing in Soho, including the sale and acquisition of businesses as well as simply property. Whether you are intending to buy or sell a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail premises or a complete business we can find you the right lawyer. As for the fees this will depend on the structure and terms of the deal. Let us have your details or telephone us so that we may provide you with a fixed commercial conveyancing calculation.

My conveyancing solicitor in Soho is asking me for ID documents saying that this is part of his obligations as a conveyancer on the mortgage company Conveyancing panel. Am I being spun a yarn?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require Soho conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that the bank also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the mortgage company's UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements