Examples of recent questions relating to the DB UK Bank Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
I am progressing with the sale of my maisonette and the EA has just e-mailed to advise that the purchasers are switching property lawyer. I am told that this is due to the fact that DB UK Bank will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a major lender only deal with certain lawyers?
Mortgage companies have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Lloyds Banking Group, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for decades.
Lenders blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
Much to my surprise my solicitor has informed me that he requires personal identification documents stating that this forms part of his retainer as a solicitor on the DB UK Bank Conveyancing panel. Can this be correct?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with DB UK Bank your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy DB UK Bank
I note that you have a search directory identifying firms on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am buying a garden flat and getting a mortgage with DB UK Bank. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the DB UK Bank 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 DB UK Bank conveyancing panel in your location.
Do most lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel requirements are different to DB UK Bank’s conveyancing panel criteria.
My husband and I are in the throws of looking at houses and am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have a conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I I am planning to take a mortgage with DB UK Bank
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the EA. As you are getting a mortgage with DB UK Bank , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel.
I currently have a mortgage with with DB UK Bank. Conveyancing was finalised some time ago. In the event that I decide 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 DB UK Bank?
DB UK Bank must be informed of your intention in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of DB UK Bank’s mortgage conditions. It may be that DB UK Bank 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 DB UK Bank directly. You need not do this via a DB UK Bank conveyancing panel firm.
