FAQs : The Britannia Solicitor Panel from members of the public
I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Britannia fees should I instruct my family lawyer. How efficient are the Britannia conveyancing panel solicitors? I dont care which law firm I use provided that they are good and reasonably priced. Would you recommend a specific law firm on the Britannia panel?
Britannia’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from whether they are on it. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Britannia will allow to act for them.
I am purchasing a newly constructed apartment and my conveyancer is informing me that she is duty bound to reveal incentives from the seller as her firm is on the Britannia conveyancing panel. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I have no desire to prolong the conveyancing. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the Britannia panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Britannia approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Britannia). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I note that you have a post code search directory identifying firms on the Britannia conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my own house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Britannia conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am purchasing a garden flat and getting a mortgage with Britannia. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Britannia conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Britannia conveyancing panel in your location.
For 5 years I had a mortgage with Britannia. My uncle has just retired and wants to pay off my mortgage. After Britannia is paid, I want to transfer the property to my mother's name; How long will it roughly take? Do we need two separate solicitors on the Britannia conveyancing panel? I do not intend to live at the property once the Britannia mortgage is discharged.
You
will need a solicitor but they need not be on the Britannia conveyancing panel.
You will need a solicitor to draw up the transfer and
to deal with the Land Registry formalities. The only thing you need to
consider is that by selling at an undervalue so ask your lawyer about
the implications. There could be an inheritance tax issue if you die
within 7 years of this. There's no capital gains tax for you as it is
your main residence.
The mortgage over my property is with Britannia. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Britannia?
You must advise Britannia in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Britannia’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Britannia directly. You need not do this via a Britannia conveyancing panel firm.
Can I register a complaint to Britannia about the lawyers being on the Britannia conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Britannia. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get 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 properly dealt with 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.