FAQs for the Britannia Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
My fiance and I are buying a 1 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Britannia. We have a lawyer but Britannia says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Britannia panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; Can we not simply insist that Britannia use our lawyer?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Britannia conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Britannia
I am buying a newly constructed duplex and my conveyancer is telling me that she is duty bound to disclose incentives from the builder as her practice is on the Britannia conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and my preference is not to prolong deal. 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.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Britannia conveyancing panel?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders or BSA do not require online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I was expecting to complete on my dream home last Friday. My lawyer’s firm is on the Britannia conveyancing panel but has changed address in the past couple of months and had not informed Britannia of their new address. Britannia has locked down the release of mortgage funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Britannia branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
My offer was accepted on an apartment on the 17th January 2014, valuation was booked 2 days later, all came back fine. Property lawyer instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Britannia and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Britannia conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Britannia to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Britannia conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
Britannia have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Britannia or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Britannia will tell you what documents they want. Britannia will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Britannia will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
My husband and I are acquiring a flat in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon will soon beinstructed. My brokeradvised that we double-check that the property lawyer in Hendon is on the Britannia solicitors panel. Surely I don't need to do this, do I?
It is not that case that all Hendon conveyancing solicitors are on the Britannia conveyancing panel. 8 people a month use our search tool to find a Hendon conveyancing practitioner on the on the Britannia panel.
