Find a Law Firm
approved by Reliance

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Reliance list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Reliance Bank Ltd Conveyancing Panel

FAQs : The Reliance Bank Solicitor Panel

My fiance and I are first time buyers. Within the last couple of days our lawyer has forwarded the sale agreement to sign with a detailed report in anticipation of exchanging contracts shortly. Reliance Bank have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our solicitor is not on their approved list of lawyers. What do we do from here?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.

In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your solicitors should contact Reliance Bank and see if they can apply for membership of the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable Reliance Bank will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it will likely delay the transaction as you have another set of people involved.

Please assist. My lawyer is not to blame but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Reliance Bank was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6 months + 3. My solicitor says that as she is on the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Reliance Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Reliance Bank)which states that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Reliance Bank.
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Reliance Bank solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am in the process of remortgaging my home does my lawyer need to be on the Reliance Bank Solicitor panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Reliance Bank conveyancing panel, but Reliance 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.
I'm in the process of viewing houses and am about to put in an offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I will be getting a home loan with Reliance Bank
It would be sensible to have your start your search soon rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the estate agent. As you are getting a mortgage with Reliance Bank , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage agreed with Reliance Bank. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Reliance Bank you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel.
I am due to exchange contracts on my house. I had a double glazing fitted in month 2010 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s mortgage company, Reliance Bank are being pedantic. The solicitor who is on the Reliance Bank conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Reliance Bank are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do Reliance Bank have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Reliance Bank have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Reliance Bank may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.