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Lenders have always had an approved set of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as HSBC, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 25 years.

Lenders point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. 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 buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

Your lawyer being on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform NRAM Ltd of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to NRAM Ltd then they would have to discontinue acting for you and NRAM Ltd.

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist

Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by NRAM Ltd but by your lawyers. Some firms on the NRAM Ltd will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

Banks and Building Societies such as NRAM Ltd can withdraw their mortgage offer although this is unusual. In the unlikely event that NRAM Ltd withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are various possible reasons but here are 5 examples:

• Where information comes to NRAM Ltd ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend

• Where the purchase price and borrowers direct contribution differ to details on the mortgage application form completed by the borrower

• Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons

• Where the lender is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value

• If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;

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 NRAM Ltd to deal with your lawyers application to be on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.