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approved by St James Place
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the St James Place list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
How does my firm apply to be on the St James Place Bank Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the St James Place Bank Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the St James Place Bank Conveyancing Panel
Examples of recent questions relating to the St James Place Conveyancing Panel
I am selling my maisonette and the estate agent has just telephoned to advise that the purchasers are changing their conveyancer. The reason given is that St James Place will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a big named lender only work with certain lawyers?
Mortgage companies have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide , have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 25 years.
Banks point to the increase in fraud as the reason 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 being contacted daily by practices 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.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company St James Place will not agree to this. Why was St James Place even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the St James Place conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform St James Place of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to St James Place then they would have to discontinue acting for you and St James Place.
How do I search for a local solicitor on the St James Place conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 kilometers to meet the lawyer.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the St James Place solicitor panel.
I am buying a terraced house and getting a mortgage with St James Place. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the St James Place conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the St James Place conveyancing panel in your location.
I am buying a property where the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender St James Place be concerned
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with St James Place your lawyer must to check the St James Place conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for St James Place . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to St James Place where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. The CML are developing guidance for Northern Ireland and Scotland.
We expect to receive a DIP from St James Place this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the St James Place recommend a solicitor on the St James Place conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the St James Place conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the St James Place through the process.
Intending to buy a flat with a mortgage with St James Place. I have received an online quote from a licensed conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the St James Place conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that they are on the St James Place conveyancing panel
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Transfer of Equity for St James PlacePlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors