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approved by GenH
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the GenH list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Gen H Conveyancing Panel
Examples of recent questions relating to the Gen H Solicitor Panel
Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my solicitor is not on the Gen H Solicitor panel that there is a problem with the standard of the firm’s conveyancing?
That would more than likely be a wrong assumption to make. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 3 reasons are as follows: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Gen H.
Our lawyer has identified a defect with the lease for the flat we are buying. The other side have offered defective title insurance as a solution. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the Gen H conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Gen H?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Gen H are the client. A precondition to being on the Gen H approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Gen H). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Gen H can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am looking for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be confident that all the law firms that are identified on your site are on the Gen H conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the Gen H panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Gen H panel. To date we have not been informed by either a lender or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Gen H conveyancing panel is incorrect.
My solicitors in Leeds have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Gen H. Is it case that being on the Gen H conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Gen H Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Gen H directly.
I am buying a property where the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Gen H be concerned
As you are obtaining a mortgage with Gen H your lawyer must to check the Gen H conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Gen H . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Gen H where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Gen H conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Gen H panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
My offer on house has been accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties in the pipeline. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with Gen H?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the Gen H conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with Gen H and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.