Examples of recent questions relating to the Atom Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public
My financial adviser has informed me that I have to pay Atom Bank fees if I use my own solicitor. How efficient are the Atom Bank conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH as long as they're good and reasonably priced. Are there any Atom Bank conveyancers you'd recommend?
Atom Bank’s conveyancing panel is substantial so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Atom Bank will allow to act for them.
Our solicitor has uncovered a defect with the lease for the property we are purchasing. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer says that as he is on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Atom Bank?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Atom Bank are the client. A precondition to being on the Atom Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Atom Bank). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Atom Bank can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
How up to date is your search tool for the Atom Bank conveyancing panel? Do Atom Bank send you an updated list?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Atom Bank directly.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel in order to deal with redeeming my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Atom Bank have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
Given that your lender is Atom Bank your lawyer must to check the Atom Bank conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Atom Bank . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Atom Bank where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
I have agreed a price on a flat I spoke to a solicitor previously used by my uncle and he recommended instructing a property lawyers approved by Atom Bank. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Atom Bank if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Atom Bank suggested that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Atom Bank 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Enquire of Atom Bank to suggest a law firm in your location. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Atom Bank conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Atom Bank’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
At last I have had an offer on an apartment accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What should be my next step? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with Atom Bank?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with Atom Bank and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.
