I am nearing exchange of contracts for my home in Yeovil and the estate agent has just called to advise that the buyers are changing their law firm. The excuse is that the bank will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a big named lender only engage with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose to handle their conveyancing in Yeovil ?
Banks have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as Yorkshire Building Society, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 15 years.
Mortgage companies blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the pruning – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. Banks tend not to disclose how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any impact on this.
Can the conveyancing practitioners listed on your site execute auction conveyancing in Yeovil?
We know of a number of niche lawyers we can connect you with those who can conduct auction conveyancing. Yeovil is just one of hundreds of areas of where our lawyers are based.
I have been told that property searches are the primary reason for stalling in Yeovil conveyancing transactions. Is that correct?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published conclusions of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the top 10 causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Yeovil.
In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my business offices in Yeovil and how can your lawyers assist?
The particular law that you refer to gives a safeguard to business leaseholders, granting the right to apply to court for a renewal tenancy and remain in occupation at the end of an expired lease. There are limited grounds where a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. Yeovil is one of the hundreds of locations in which our lawyers are based
In my capacity as executor for the estate of my grandmother I am selling a house in Swansea but live in Yeovil. My solicitor (based 260 miles awayrequires that I execute a statutory declaration ahead of the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing practitioner in Yeovil who can attest and place their company stamp on the document?
Technically speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or solicitor will do regardless of whether they are based in Yeovil