Find a Law Firm approved by Banks & Clients

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 a Law Firm approved by Banks & Clients
Find a Law Firm approved by Banks & Clients

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Banks and Clients plc Conveyancing Panel

FAQs : The Banks and Clients Solicitor Panel

The lawyer my fiance and I had intended to instruct on a purchase said he would charge more if my lender is due to their unusual legal requirements. Am I likely to be frustrated using Banks and Clients? Is Banks and Clients conveyancing so much more difficult?
Banks and Clients conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders. It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender. It is not clear if your lawyer is on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as Banks and Clients will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
Can you clarify something for me?. 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 10 days inc Day of week eg. Mon. My solicitor informs me that as she is on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer valid.
A precondition 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 specifies 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.
Whilst your website is a good idea there are many lawyers listed near Hackney on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel. Can you recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for Banks and Clients ?
We are not in the business of recommending one firm above another as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
What happens if my solicitor is suspended from the Banks and Clients Solicitor panel prior to the completion date?
First, this is a very rare occurrence. 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 at a cost.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Banks and Clients do lawyers have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
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.
I have today made my last payment due on mortgage with Banks and Clients. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Banks and Clients panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm
If you have finished paying off your Banks and Clients mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Banks and Clients mortgage from the register. Banks and Clients,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage: but are not moving to another property where the Banks and Clients has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and the Banks and Clients has instructed the Land Registry to do so The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Banks and Clients mortgage has been paid off.
Can I register a complaint to Banks and Clients about the lawyers being on the Banks and Clients conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Banks and Clients. 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.

Other Topics

Transfer of Equity for Banks and Clients

Please note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors