Conveyancers new build

maanse

Just in the process of buying a new build and have been told that my solicitor is not on the lenders panel (after paying for searches) and doesn't have enough partners to be added. Can I use any solicitor listed on the lenders panel or do I have to use one recommend by the builder? Is it more expensive to use a non builder recommend solicitor?

TIA

AdrianC

You absolutely do not have to - or want to - use the vendor's recommended solicitor.

Remember - the solicitor is the one person on your side, and is scrutinising the vendor's paperwork for issues. Why would you compromise this by the solicitor's major client being that vendor...? Whose interests are closer to their commercial heart?

Tiglet2

General advice is don't use the builder's recommended solicitor.  The builder's recommended solicitor is getting a lot of work thrown their way by the builder and getting a referral fee as well, so the solicitor is more likely to be working on behalf of the builder than you. 

If you contact other solicitors firms, ask them if they are on the lender's panel or alternatively, if you want to continue with the solicitor you already have, change lender. 

If you want to continue with your solicitor and lender, then the lender can appoint their own solicitor, but all the work your solicitor does will have to go via the lender's solicitor, who will check all the work your solicitor does - adding to the timescales.

maanse

In that case, I've got a list of nearly 3500 solicitors on the lenders panel to go through. 🤔