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Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Virgin list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Virgin Money plc Conveyancing Panel
Virgin Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires
Can you please explain the reason why all solicitors aren't included on the Virgin Solicitor panel?
Virgin and other mortgage companies normally imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing solicitors on their panel. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that Virgin have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Virgin Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, Conveyancing is not their speciality? To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime; probably not.
I am buying a brand new flat and my lawyer is telling me that she is duty bound to reveal incentives from the builder as her practice is on the Virgin conveyancing panel. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange and my preference is not to delay deal. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the Virgin panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Virgin approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Virgin). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Virgin conveyancing panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am thinking of refinancing my home does my lawyer have to be on the Virgin Conveyancing panel?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but Virgin will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
Is it the case that all solicitor firms on the Virgin conveyancing panel overseen by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Virgin conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have telephoned Virgin on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Virgin conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Virgin. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Virgin will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Virgin to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Virgin mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Virgin mortgage in order to sell?
As regards the Virgin mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Virgin in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.