Solicitor removed from lender's panel

[Ornamentalcabbages]

So not to drip feed, I'm at the end stage of purchasing a new build property as a FTB.

Received an email from my broker asking if I was aware that my solicitor has been removed from my lender's panel (I was not!?), and that I will either need to find a new lender or firm in order to proceed with my purchase.

What makes matters worse is that we are only about a week away away from completion, and now it looks unlikely I'll be in the property until the new year.

I am so upset and angry, especially as this message was sent at 17:30 on a Friday meaning I am unable to contact anyone (broker/solicitor/sales team) until Monday for advice 😩😤

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

You are in my prayers

Lenders don't removed solicitors from their panels lightly. It's terrible timing for you though. First thing you should do is call you solicitor first thing monday morning, I would also send an email now in case they check their emails over the weekend. Find out why they have been removed, sometimes it's something like their partners names have changed and it flags fraud. They simply have to update with the lender and it gets sorted.

If they are cagey or won't tell you then it is likely they have done something wrong to get removed. Then you have 3 options:

1. Change solicitor. Call several other companies and see what their process is in a situation like this. As you are so close to completion they may be able to just review everything then complete for you. Realistically the fastest they could probably do this is 2 weeks but that would be fast. Do you have your final report? If so that will help. This will also obviously cost you more money.

1. Some lenders will continue with a solicitor that is not on their panel for a fee. This is usually between £500-1000. You would need to talk to your broker.

1. Change lender. I wouldn't do this as it will delay you by weeks/months. I would also be worried that your solicitors may get removed from the new lenders panel if they have done something to warrent it with the first lender.

I'm so sorry you are in this position. Some lenders have saturday hours, check with yours as you may be able to call and get some more info.

Thanks for your reply @blacklilypad

All reports were signed and returned earlier this week.

The strangest thing is that the lender was in contact with my solicitor as recently as Tuesday as they received their requested appendix to their mortgage offer

I will be on the phone 9am sharp come Monday, do not fear!

To add to Blacklilypad's list

4. keep your solicitor but pay extra for the lender to use a different one for the work they need doing.

Thanks @Oricocococo I think I came across that option in my frantic Googling session last night.

Absolute nightmare!

Don't panic! It's a possibility that there's a very simple and easily fixable reason for this (eg the solicitor's practicing certificate has renewed but the lender hasn't received a copy of the current certificate).
Speak to your broker first thing Monday - they need to contact the lender and establish why the sols have been removed from panel.

Our solicitor isn't on our mortgage company's panel. It's not been a problem. The mortgage company are using Enact for the bit that they need. I'm not even sure that it's costing us any extra. I don't know that it will be OK for you, but maybe it will.

Well that was a weekend wasted to (undue) stress!

Solicitor has been in touch to say it was a clerical error with their panel membership administrator and it has been rectified 🎉

Is 09:30 too early for a medicinal drink? 😵

That's great to hear. Never too early, it's 5pm somewhere!