FAQs : The RBS- First Active Solicitor Panel from members of the public
My property lawyer has never been on on the RBS- First Active Conveyancing Panel. Is it possible for me to retain my family solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the RBS- First Active list of approved lawyers?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by RBS- First Active. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
My solicitor is asking me for ID documents asserting that this forms part of his requirements as a solicitor on the RBS- First Active Conveyancing panel. Is this right?
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 RBS- First Active your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy RBS- First Active
Whilst your website is a good idea there are many lawyers listed near Leeds on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the RBS- First Active approved panel?
We do not recommend specific firms as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
My lawyers in Manchester have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with RBS- First Active. Is it case that being on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the RBS- First Active Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting RBS- First Active directly.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with RBS- First Active. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active you will need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel.
I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their lawyers I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me to say that they were not on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the RBS- First Active panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
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 do I do now? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with RBS- First Active?
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 RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.