I am in the process of selling my home in Sprowston and the estate agent has just telephoned to warn that the purchasers are changing their property lawyer. The excuse is that the lender will only engage with solicitors on their approved list. Why would a major lender only deal with specific lawyers rather the firm that they want to appoint to handle their conveyancing in Sprowston ?

Banks have always had an approved set of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the last few years big names such as Yorkshire Building Society, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for over 25 years.

Lenders point to the increase in fraud as the reason for the pruning – criteria have been narrowed as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your buyers are not going to have any impact on this.

Can your site be used to recommend a Conveyancing solicitor in Sprowston even if I’m not purchasing or disposing of a house, for instance if I wish to acquire a shop in Sprowston with a loan from Halifax?

Our comparison service is mainly used to locate residential conveyancing solicitors in Sprowston but we have recorded at the end of this page a few Sprowston commercial conveyancing firms. You will need to speak with the solicitors directly to see if they are also authorised to represent Halifax

Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Sprowston prior to instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. My surveyor has said that some lenders tend not give a loan on this type of property.

It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different instructions from Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can check with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Sprowston. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

I was advised by a couple of local property agents in Sprowston to locate a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to offer your services rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?

We refuse to make any commission for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult a fee as members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

My father-in-law has urged me to instruct his conveyancing solicitors in Sprowston. Do I take his guidance?

No doubt it’s preferable to choose a conveyancing solicitor is to have feedback from friends or relatives who have used the firm that you are are thinking of instructing.