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Find a Law Firm approved by Natwest Bank
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Find an Approved Solicitor on the National Westminster Bank plc Conveyancing Panel

Common questions asked concerning the National Westminster Bank Solicitor Panel

How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find one who is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel. Is it practical to instruct different lawyers?
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.
My fiance and I changing mortgage lender for our maisonette with National Westminster Bank. We have a son approaching twenty who lives with us. The solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel has asked us to disclose any adults other than ourselves who reside at the property. The solicitor has now sent a form for our son to sign, waiving any legal rights in the event that the property is forfeited by the lender. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this document specific to the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we purchased 3 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
On the face of it your lawyer has done nothing wrong as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to National Westminster Bank .This is solely used to protect the National Westminster Bank if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave.

It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of National Westminster Bank had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.

What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 kilometers to meet the conveyancer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the National Westminster Bank solicitor panel.
I am in the process of remortgaging my property does my lawyer have to be on the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel, but National Westminster Bank would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
Is there a list of National Westminster Bank panel conveyancers on the CML Handbook Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Is it the case that all solicitor firms on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel regulated by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Why might a lender such as National Westminster Bank withdraw a mortgage offer?
Lenders such as National Westminster Bank can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. should National Westminster Bank withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • Where information comes to National Westminster Bank ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend
  • If the borrower informs National Westminster Bank of a change in the loan amount agreed
  • Where the lender is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
  • If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;
  • If the solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel acting for the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor cannot comply with National Westminster Bank ‘s instructions

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