Choosing a solicitor for a buy-to-let mortgage with The Mortgage Works involves more than comparing conveyancing fees. Establish whether the firm can act on your particular mortgage, whether it will represent both you and the lender, and whether its quotation covers the work your property requires.
The The Mortgage Works solicitor panel search on LenderMonitor provides a starting point for finding conveyancing firms covering your area in England and Wales.
Find a conveyancer for your Mortgage Works transaction
Search by postcode or town for firms listed as working with The Mortgage Works mortgage instructions. Then ask the particular office to confirm that it can act on your purchase or remortgage.
Start with the borrower and transaction type
When requesting a quotation, explain whether you are buying or remortgaging, whether the borrower is an individual or a limited company, and whether the property is already occupied by tenants.
Also identify any features requiring particular attention, such as a leasehold title, a house in multiple occupation, a transfer of ownership or a purchase involving an existing tenancy.
A firm experienced in ordinary residential conveyancing may also handle investment properties, but ask about its experience with your type of transaction. Confirm who will carry out the work and who will supervise it.
How to use The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel search
The LenderMonitor page allows you to search by postcode or town. Searching is free; legal fees are agreed separately with the firm you instruct.
The directory contains a selection of firms and is not The Mortgage Works’ complete approved panel. A firm missing from the results is not necessarily unable to act for the lender.
Before paying money or ordering searches, ask the firm to confirm:
- That it can act for The Mortgage Works on your particular mortgage.
- That the confirmation relates to the office handling the transaction.
- Whether it will represent both you and the lender.
- Whether your borrower structure or property type affects the arrangements.
Keep the confirmation with the quotation and terms of engagement. Membership of another lender’s panel does not establish approval for The Mortgage Works.
What if your chosen solicitor cannot act for the lender?
Establish the position before assuming that you need to abandon your preferred firm. The available arrangements depend on the application and the lender’s requirements.
The Mortgage Works’ published guidance allows applicants to nominate a conveyancer to act solely for them, with the lender appointing a separate conveyancer at the applicant’s expense. However, it states that separate representation is not available for limited company applications.
For an individual borrower, ask your broker and conveyancer whether separate representation is available and what it would cost. For a limited company application, resolve the firm’s eligibility early rather than assume that a second firm can simply be appointed for the lender.
Changing conveyancer after the offer has been issued can also require the lender’s records and offer to be updated. Discuss the process and timing before making the change.
Limited company buy-to-let conveyancing needs a clear quotation
If the company will own the property and borrow the money, give the conveyancer the company details at the outset. Ask whether the quotation covers the company-specific work and any guarantee or independent legal advice arrangements required by the mortgage.
The Mortgage Works’ solicitor guidance requires charge registration at both HM Land Registry and Companies House for limited company buy-to-let lending.
Ask the firm to explain what documents and information it needs from the company and its directors. Establish who will coordinate any additional advice so that an unresolved signing requirement does not emerge immediately before completion.
Tell the conveyancer about tenants and property issues early
A buy-to-let transaction can involve questions that are less prominent in an owner-occupied purchase. Supply the tenancy documents and tell the conveyancer about occupation, deposits, proposed letting arrangements and any known licensing issue.
For a leasehold property, provide information about the remaining lease term, ground rent, service charges and restrictions on letting. These matters may affect the legal work, the lender’s decision and your future ability to sell or refinance.
Our earlier Mortgage Works minimum lease-term article records a change in 2014. It is historical background and should not be used as a statement of today’s lending requirements.
The conveyancer must assess the current instructions and mortgage offer against the property you are buying or remortgaging.
Compare the scope of the legal work
Ask for a quotation identifying the legal fee, VAT, disbursements and circumstances in which additional charges may arise.
Useful questions include:
- Does the fee cover a purchase with an existing tenant?
- Is leasehold work included?
- What additional work may arise for an HMO or limited company borrower?
- Are lender representation and any required guarantee arrangements covered?
- Who pays for additional enquiries, documents or specialist advice?
- What charges apply if the transaction does not complete?
If a mortgage product includes a standard legal fee service, establish its scope and exclusions. Additional work may still attract charges.
A remortgage still requires legal checks
You may already own the property and have let it for years. That does not establish that every requirement of a new mortgage has been satisfied.
Tell the conveyancer about changes since your last mortgage, including alterations, additional charges, changes in ownership or occupation, and problems with the lease or title.
If ownership is changing as part of the transaction, read our earlier article on transfer of equity conveyancing and the work behind the quotation.
Search requirements can also differ between purchases and remortgages. Our guide to search insurance and mortgage lender requirements explains why the applicable instruction needs checking.
Confirm the legal arrangements before committing to a timetable
Panel status, the scope of the retainer and the property’s legal position should be considered early. A directory search can help you identify firms, but direct confirmation is needed before relying on a firm to handle the mortgage.
Buying or remortgaging with The Mortgage Works?
Find conveyancing firms covering your area, discuss your borrower and property details, and obtain confirmation that the firm can act on your mortgage.
Lender guidance checked on 8 October 2026. Confirm the current representation arrangements and instructions for your particular application.