Find a Law Firm
approved by Nationwide BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Nationwide BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
How does my firm apply to be on the Nationwide Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Nationwide Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Nationwide Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Q and A’s regarding the Nationwide BS Solicitor Panel
We are hoping to buy a 2 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Nationwide BS. We have a solicitor but Nationwide Building Society says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Nationwide BS panel solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Nationwide BS conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Nationwide Building Society
We are only a couple days away from an exchange and my parents having sent the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender Nationwide BS. Apparently, being on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Nationwide BS if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I advised the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for this now to be an issue?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Nationwide Building Society to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to Nationwide BS if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I am searching for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be sure that all the firms that are listed on your website are on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the Nationwide BS panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Nationwide 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 Nationwide BS conveyancing panel is not accurate.
I was due to complete on my first house last Thursday. My lawyer’s firm is on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed Nationwide BS of their new address. Nationwide Building Society is now refusing to release my funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Nationwide BS branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
Do conveyancing lawyers on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their service
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from Nationwide BS as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Nationwide BS would not normally instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers 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 Nationwide Building Society list
Completion of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Nationwide BS. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about Nationwide Building Society. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Nationwide BS branches or the Customer Care Department at Nationwide Building Society head office. Ordinarily complaints to Nationwide BS are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.