Find a Law Firm
approved by BOI

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the BOI list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Bank of Ireland as Bank of Ireland Mortgages Conveyancing Panel

Frequently asked questions relating to the Bank of Ireland Mortgages Solicitor Panel

My Solicitor is not on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages Conveyancing Panel. Can I still use my family solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the Bank of Ireland Mortgages panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
You have a number of options available to you here:
  1. Carry on with your existing solicitors but Bank of Ireland Mortgages will need to instruct a lawyer on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel. This will result in additional cost and potential delay.
  2. Get a new solicitor to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel.
  3. Urge your lawyer to apply to join the Bank of Ireland Mortgages lender panel
I am buying a newly constructed duplex and my conveyancer is informing me that she has to disclose incentives from the developer as her firm is on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange contracts and I have no desire to prolong deal. is my lawyer taking the correct approach?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Bank of Ireland Mortgages). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
How up to date is your database of lawyers on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel? Do Bank of Ireland Mortgages send you an updated list?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Bank of Ireland Mortgages directly.
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my solicitor is removed from the Bank of Ireland Mortgages Solicitor panel before the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Bank of Ireland Mortgages. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland Mortgages you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel.
Planning on purchasing a flat with a mortgage with Bank of Ireland Mortgages. I have received an online quote from a licensed conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that they are on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having made sure that they are on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or I've digested plenty of house buying,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Bank of Ireland Mortgages conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Bank of Ireland Mortgages will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Bank of Ireland Mortgages will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland Mortgages you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.