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approved by Santander
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Santander 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 Santander Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Santander Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Santander Conveyancing Panel
FAQs for the Santander Conveyancing Panel
Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my solicitor is not isted on the Santander Conveyancing panel that there is a problem with the quality of his work?
That would more than likely be a wrong assumption to make. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 3 reasons are as follows: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Santander.
My husband and I changing mortgage lender for our penthouse with Santander. We have a son 19 who lives with us. The solicitor on the Santander conveyancing panel requested us to identify anyone over the age of 17 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 apartment is forfeited by the lender. I have a couple of questions (1) Is this document specific to the Santander conveyancing panel as he did not need to sign this form when we bought 3 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
First, rest assured that your Santander conveyancing panel solicitor is doing the right thing 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 Santander .This is solely used to protect the Santander 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 Santander 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.
I need to find a Santander panel solicitor in Belfast. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Santander panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Santander to find out which solicitors in Santander are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
My conveyancers in Manchester have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Santander. Is it case that being on the Santander conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Santander Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Santander directly.
I had instructed online solicitors based in London who are on the Santander solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £150 for the legal aspects of the Santander mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee specified by Santander?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Santander but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Santander will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I have paid off my mortgage with Santander. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Santander panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Santander mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Santander mortgage from the register. Santander,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
but are not moving to another property
where the Santander has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Santander has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Santander mortgage has been paid off.
It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called into my local branch Santander on various occasions and told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Santander conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Santander. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Santander will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Santander to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
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Transfer of Equity for SantanderPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors