Is it possible to change conveyancer?

ace_85

Ok, the quick and dirty version of events here. We have had a mortgage offer agreed with the Halifax for the house that we are purchasing. Somewhat foolishly, I let myself be talked by the EA into using their conveyancer, one of these 'at a distance' cheap affairs. So far they have lost our paperwork for authority, mistakenly presumed that I am sole purchaser when my OH is clearly named on their own files, and failed to respond to emails. In short, my faith in them is gone already. Is it possible to switch to a local bricks-and-mortar solicitor at this point, or are we stuck with them? My concern is that they now appear on the mortgage offer documents, so it might be too late to switch.

Any advice gratefully received

bmunky7

You can definitely change, though it will cause different problems - delays, costs....etc... And the old solicitors will still charge you for the work they have done (not much though it seems!)

you just need to inform your estate agent, mortgage company and the old and new solicitors of the change.

ace_85

Thanks for responding. They have already taken their fee to begin searches - no delay there of course - but, as they say that they never received our authority to proceed (information, I might add, that we would be unaware of if we hadn't chased them), then I don't see how they can claim to have already carried out much work. The cost, at any rate, is a secondary concern. The purchase is already complicated by having tenants currently insitu that will need to be given notice etc. The last thing we need is a slow and stupid conveyancing service to add more trouble. We're still early enough in the game for me to seriously consider giving them the brush-off.

GavChap

I did the same thing. We switched conveyancers, they old ones refunded us everything as they hadn't started searches yet or had our authority to proceed. We just told the old ones we didn't want them anymore, and instructed the new ones to start.

ace_85

Thanks. Were there any implications of switching for your mortgage offer if you don't mind me asking? Did the lender ask you to resubmit anything?

I probably sound like I haven't given these people a chance but, frankly, my first house purchase is too important to me. I'm disinclined to let loose a bunch of strangers 300-odd miles away that seem indifferent at best and, at worst, whose incompetence could potentially cost me the sale :mad:

kingstreet

When you notify Halifax, they will write to your current solicitor to confirm it is no longer acting for you or them and will forward a copy of the offer to then new firm.

ace_85

Appreciate the help. We are looking into switching to the solicitor who did the conveyancing for my in-laws' recent move and who, by all accounts, is a vastly improved choice. Time to get onto the Halifax after the bank holiday weekend. I'll update this thread in due course, even if only for the benefit of lurkers/my own rapidly-diminishing sanity

kingstreet

Make sure the new firm is on Halifax panel first.