No, you are not obligated to use the solicitor recommended by your mortgage provider says Samantha Bellamy from our Property team. Sam explores some of the matters you should consider when choosing a property solicitor.

Freedom to choose

While your mortgage provider may recommend a firm, you are free to choose your own solicitor. It’s good to shop around, look up reviews to see what others say of their experience with them and make sure you find a solicitor you are happy with in terms of relationship, value and service.

Referral fees

It’s also good to be aware that mortgage brokers will receive a referral fee if you use their recommended solicitor, it won’t necessarily speed things up just by using their recommended solicitor.

‘Free’ Solicitors fees

Some lenders offer you ‘free’ legal fees if you use their appointed Solicitor. This of course is very attractive and if you do take the Lender up on this offer, it is important to check that there are no strings attached or hidden extras.

Lender’s Panels

One thing which could determine your choice of solicitor dictated by your lender is whether the solicitor you want to use is on what is referred to as their ‘Lender’s panel’. Every mortgage lender will have a list of approved solicitors they are happy to work with.

Accreditations

If a solicitor firm is or is not on the list or ‘panel’ of a particular lender, it is not necessarily a reflection of the firm’s competence. It could be that they require specific accreditations such as CQS, or need to be of a certain size in terms of the number of Partners/ Directors.

Get in touch

If you’d like to speak to us about a property matter, our friendly and experienced team would be pleased to hear from you. You can contact us by email info@penderlaw.co.uk or phone us on 01872 241408.