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Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the AtomBank list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Atom Bank plc Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Atom Bank plc Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Atom Bank plc Conveyancing Panel
Examples of recent questions relating to the Atom Bank Solicitor Panel
My husband and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Atom Bank. We like our lawyer but Atom Bank says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Atom Bank panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Atom Bank
Can you clarify something for me?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Atom Bank was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are now out of date.
A precondition to being on the Atom Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Atom Bank)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Atom Bank.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Atom Bank approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Atom Bank conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Atom Bank solicitor panel.
I was supposed to complete on my dream home two days ago. My solicitor is on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed Atom Bank of their new address. Atom Bank has locked down the release of mortgage funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is a rare situation indeed. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Atom Bank branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
Are all conveyancing solicitors on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
What are the common reasons for a lender such as Atom Bank to withdraw a mortgage offer?
Banks and Building Societies such as Atom Bank can revoke their mortgage offer although this is unusual. should Atom Bank withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
- Atom Bank may amend or withdraw an offer if the Atom Bank conveyancing panel solicitor is unable to confirm compliance with any of the conditions of the mortgage offer or if any of the terms of the mortgage offer cannot be satisfied
- Many mortgage offers have an expiry date. Your lawyer should check this. Atom Bank may amend or withdraw an offer before the end of its validation period if an offer extension is requested and following a re-evaluation of the property the value of the security is below a level which is acceptable to them.
- Where the purchase price and borrowers direct contribution differ to details on the mortgage application form completed by the borrower
- Where to proceed with the Mortgage offer would be unlawful
- Where the lender has to take account a recent change in law
Can I register a complaint to Atom Bank about the lawyers being on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Atom Bank about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
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