Frequently asked questions relating to the Bank of Scotland Private Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
My property lawyer is not on the Bank of Scotland Private Approved Panel. Can I still retain my family solicitor even though they are not on the Bank of Scotland Private panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a Bank of Scotland Private 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 Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by Bank of Scotland Private. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
My solicitor has identified an inconsistency between the information in Bank of Scotland Private’s home valuation report and what is in the title deeds. My lawyer says that as he is on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this discrepancy and is content go ahead. Is my solicitor’s approach appropriate?
A precondition to being on the Bank of Scotland Private approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Bank of Scotland Private) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. 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 do I search for a local solicitor on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 miles to meet the solicitor.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Bank of Scotland Private solicitor panel.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel in order to deal with redeeming my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Bank of Scotland Private 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.
I have today made my last payment due on mortgage with Bank of Scotland Private. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Bank of Scotland Private panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm
If you have finished paying off your Bank of Scotland Private 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 Bank of Scotland Private mortgage from the register. Bank of Scotland Private,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 Bank of Scotland Private has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Bank of Scotland Private has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Bank of Scotland Private mortgage has been paid off.
Intending to buy a house with a mortgage with Bank of Scotland Private. I have received an online quote from a licensed conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that they are on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel
My husband and I are purchasing a house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to beretained. My friendsuggested that we check that the solicitor in Hendon is on the Bank of Scotland Private solicitors panel. Is this really necessary?
It is not that case that all Hendon conveyancing firms are on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel. 7 people a month use our search tool to search for a Hendon conveyancing firm on the on the Bank of Scotland Private solicitors pane.