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approved by Britannia
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Britannia list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Britannia Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Britannia Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Britannia Conveyancing Panel
Britannia Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires
I would like to know the reason why all solicitors are not on the Britannia Solicitor panel?
Before the recession most lenders had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 conducted a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors that you are dealing with. Consequently, lenders have regularly sought more information from law firms about their operations and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of transactions. Many firms that have been excluded from lender panels have 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Such firms were never going to meet the criteria of volume of transactions the lenders required.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Britannia will not agree to this. Why was Britannia even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Britannia conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Britannia of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Britannia then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Britannia.
I see that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the Britannia conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for my own conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Britannia conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I would like to get my ex-wife taken off the mortgage deeds. Can Britannia really tell me which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but Britannia then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Britannia solicitors panel
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Britannia conveyancing panel?
A selection of lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s 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 remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
I currently have a mortgage with with Britannia. Conveyancing was finalised a year ago. In the event that I decide to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Britannia?
Your original mortgage agreement with Britannia will provide that you need their approval prior to renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Britannia’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Britannia directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Britannia conveyancing panel solicitor.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Britannia mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Britannia mortgage in order to sell?
As regards the Britannia mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Britannia in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.
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Transfer of Equity for BritanniaPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors