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approved by Whistletree
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Whistletree 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 Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) Conveyancing Panel
FAQs for the Whistletree Conveyancing Panel
My Conveyancer has never been on on the Whistletree Solicitor Panel. Is it possible for me to use my preferred solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the Whistletree panel?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a Whistletree mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the Whistletree conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by Whistletree. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
Our conveyancer has identified a legal deficiency with the lease for the apartment we are buying. The seller’s lawyers have put forward title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer says that as he is on the Whistletree conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Whistletree?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from Whistletree 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 Whistletree are the client. The appropriate lender requirements have to be complied with by the Whistletree conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and Whistletree
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Whistletree approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Whistletree conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Whistletree solicitor panel.
Please explain the implications if my solicitor is suspended from the Whistletree Conveyancing panel in advance of completion?
The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Whistletree conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to Whistletree. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
I was told four weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed
to by Whistletree. Is it usual for Whistletree to only issue the offer once my
solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Whistletree to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
Sometime soon me and my wife are remortgaging a house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to beinstructed. My colleaguerecommended that we make sure that the conveyancer in Hendon is on the Whistletree solicitors panel. Aren't all lawyers on the Whistletree panel?
A limited percentage of Hendon conveyancing firms are on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. 5 people a month use our search tool to find a Hendon conveyancing firm on the on the Whistletree panel.
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Transfer of Equity for WhistletreePlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors