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approved by Bath BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Bath BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Bath Building Society Dual Representation Solicitors
Bath Building Society does not operate a Conveyancing Panel, but does allow certain lawyers to conduct dual representation subject to meeting their criteria.
For the purposes of clarification, references on this page to "conveyancing panel" mean the ability of your lawyer represent both you and Bath Building Society in their capacity as lender.
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What is the rationale as to why all property lawyers are not on the Bath Building Society Conveyancing panel?
Even though it may seem unfair for Bath Building Society to restrict who can act for them from the public’s or solicitor’s point of view, the other side of the coin is that the lenders are becoming ever more anxious and feel the necessary need to protect them from mortgage fraud and other illegal activities. As a result of this concern Bath Building Society are limiting their conveyancing panel to a size that they are happy to control. The Bath Building Society lawyer panel is not the most difficult to join
Please help. My conveyancer is informing me me that he is legally obliged to order a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Bath Building Society solicitor panel. Is my lawyer correct?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are taking a mortgage with Bath Building Society your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Bath Building Society’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Bath Building Society. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I have been Googling for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be sure that all the firms that are identified on your site are on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel?
The law firms on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the Bath Building Society panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Bath Building Society panel. To date we have not been informed by either a mortgage company or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel is incorrect.
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my solicitor is expelled from the Bath Building Society Solicitor panel prior to 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.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Bath Building Society as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
Bath Building Society do not ordinarily appoint a member of their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Bath Building Society list
Bath Building Society have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Bath Building Society or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Bath Building Society will tell you what documents they want. Bath Building Society will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Bath Building Society will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.