Find an Approved Solicitor on the Bank of Scotland
Conveyancing Panel
Examples of recent questions relating to the Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel
I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Bank of Scotland panel of conveyancing solicitors. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
Our god-son is buying a house that has just been built with a home loan from Bank of Scotland. His solicitor has said that there is a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?
The form is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked.
The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.
The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
My conveyancers in Manchester have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Bank of Scotland. Is it case that being on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Bank of Scotland directly.
Can you point me to a directory of Bank of Scotland panel solicitors on the Building Society Association’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to Bank of Scotland. All solicitors 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.
It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Bank of Scotland on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
As long as the conveyancer is on the Bank of Scotland panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Bank of Scotland. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Bank of Scotland will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Bank of Scotland to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.