Find a Law Firm
approved by NRAM
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the NRAM list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
How does my firm apply to be on the NRAM Ltd Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the NRAM Ltd Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the NRAM Ltd Conveyancing Panel
Common questions asked concerning the NRAM Ltd Solicitor Panel
My husband and I are novices when it comes to buying a property. Within the 48 hours our lawyer has forwarded the sale agreement to sign with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. NRAM Ltd have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that they have now hit a problem as our conveyancer is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?
If you are buying a property with the assistance of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.
In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your solicitors should contact NRAM Ltd and see if they can apply for membership of the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable NRAM Ltd will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred lawyers, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you have another set of people involved.
I am due to move into my new home next Tuesday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for NRAM Ltd. What risks do NRAM Ltd expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in NRAM Ltd’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on NRAM Ltd). Being on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these requirements.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the NRAM Ltd 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 NRAM Ltd 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 NRAM Ltd solicitor panel.
I am remortgaging my home does my lawyer need to be on the NRAM Ltd Conveyancing panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel, but NRAM Ltd would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
Is the case that all CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel?
Some major banks and building societies now use CQS as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of firms.
We expect to receive a DIP from NRAM Ltd this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the NRAM Ltd recommend a solicitor on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the NRAM Ltd conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the NRAM Ltd through the process.
NRAM Ltd have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up NRAM Ltd or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. NRAM Ltd will tell you what documents they want. NRAM Ltd will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. NRAM Ltd will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
Other Topics
Transfer of Equity for NRAM LtdPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors