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approved by Family BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Family BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions
My Conveyancer is not listed on the Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel. Is it possible for me to retain my family solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the Family Building Society panel?
You have a number of options available to you here:
- Complete the purchase with your existing lawyers but Family Building Society will need to instruct a lawyer on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. This will result in additional cost and potential delay.
- Get a new solicitor to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel.
- Urge your lawyer to apply to join the Family Building Society lender panel
Our lawyer has identified a problem with the lease for the property we are buying. The other side have suggested title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Family Building Society?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from Family Building Society does not mean to say that the property will be meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the CML Handbook Requirements. You and Family Building Society are the client. These conveyancing instructions must be adhered to by the Family Building Society conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and Family Building Society
I note that you have a search directory identifying firms on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am attempting to get my ex-husband removed the mortgage deeds. Can Family Building Society really insist on which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but Family Building Society 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 Family Building Society solicitors panel
I have a mortgage with Family Building Society. Conveyancing has been completed a year ago. Should I wish to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Family Building Society?
You must advise Family Building Society in advance of renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Family Building Society’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Family Building Society will permit you to let 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 Family Building Society directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Family Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a loan from Family Building Society. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Family Building Society. How do I make a complaint?
Almost all banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Family Building Society branches or the Customer Care Department at Family Building Society head office. In most cases complaints to Family Building Society are sorted out very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment. My financial adviser pressured me to appoint their lawyers I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Family Building Society panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.