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approved by Coutts & Co
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Coutts & Co 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 Coutts Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Coutts Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Coutts Conveyancing Panel
Coutts & Co Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions
For what reasons could a law firm be excluded from the Coutts & Co approved conveyancing panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of solicitor practices had been removed from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
- Low volume of transactions
- the lawyer is a sole practitioner
- as part of the HSBC panel reduction
- regulatory contact by SRA
- accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Coutts & Co
We are getting closer to an exchange and my parents having transferred the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my lender Coutts & Co. I am advised that, being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Coutts & Co if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I informed the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the home loan so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Coutts & Co to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to Coutts & Co if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Are there any apps to help search for a local solicitor on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 kilometers to meet the solicitor.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Coutts & Co solicitor panel.
I am in the process of refinancing my apartment does my lawyer need to be on the Coutts & Co Conveyancing panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Coutts & Co conveyancing panel, but Coutts & Co 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 conveyancing matter.
When it comes to lenders such as Coutts & Co do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
Is it common for Coutts & Co to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Banks and Building Societies such as Coutts & Co can revoke their mortgage offer although this is unusual. If Coutts & Co 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:
- A cashback to the buyer, or | part of the price includes a non-cash incentive to the buyer (eg paid stamp duty land tax),or | any indirect incentive (cash or non cash) or rental guarantee, of which the lender was previously unaware
- Situations where information provided by the borrower that enabled the lender to make a lending decision is fraudulent, incorrect or misleading.
- 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 is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
Can I register a complaint to Coutts & Co about the lawyers being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Coutts & Co. 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 properly dealt with 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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Transfer of Equity for Coutts & CoPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors