Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Banks & Clients list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Banks and Clients plc
Conveyancing Panel
Banks and Clients Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions
I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Banks and Clients 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.
Can you help?. For no fault of my lawyer but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Banks and Clients was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My solicitor has advised that as she is on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Banks and Clients approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Banks and Clients)which states 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 Banks and Clients.
Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to pop into the offices of the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Manchester
so that I can pop in to their offices when needed.
Whereas this was necessary 12 years ago, most lenders no longer require their conveyancing panel solicitor to witness the borrowers signature. You will still be obliged to provide ID Documents and there are still distinct advantages to using a local solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in Manchester
.
I am buying a new build flat and getting a mortgage with Banks and Clients. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel in your location.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel?
A selection of lenders now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Banks and Clients do lawyers 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.
Completion of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Banks and Clients. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about Banks and Clients. How does one go about formally complaining?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Banks and Clients branches or the Customer Services Team at Banks and Clients head office. We understand that complaints to Banks and Clients are sorted out very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.