FAQs for the Leek United BS Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
I appointed a law firm to carry out on my remortgage 4 weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Leek United BS. The law firm reassured me that they are on Leek United BS conveyancing panel and gave me their panel number. Leek United BS then told me that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What do I do from here? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the approved panel for Leek United BS?
The answer depends on whether you still have confidence in the said solicitors and how long it will take for the firm to be reinstated on the Leek United BS conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Leek United BS as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
My fiance and I intend to remortgage our penthouse with Leek United BS. We have a son 18 who lives with us. The solicitor on the Leek United BS conveyancing panel has asked us to disclose anyone over the age of 17 other than ourselves who reside at the property. Our lawyer has now e-mailed a document for our son to sign, giving up any rights in the event that the apartment is forfeited by the lender. I have two questions (1) Is this form unique to the Leek United BS conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we remortgaged 4 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
First, rest assured that your Leek United BS conveyancing panel solicitor is doing the right thing as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to Leek United BS .This is solely used to protect the Leek United BS if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave.
It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of Leek United BS had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Leek United BS solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am trying to get my ex-husband removed the mortgage deeds. Can Leek United BS really insist on which solicitor I can or can not use?
You can use any solicitor you like but Leek United BS then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Leek United BS solicitors panel
We have had an offer accepted on a flat I spoke to a conveyancer previously used by my brother and he recommended using a law firm approved by Leek United BS. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Leek United BS if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Leek United BS suggested that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Leek United BS 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Leek United BS to suggest a law firm in your location. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Leek United BS conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Leek United BS conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Leek United BS’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
The for formalities of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Leek United BS. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Leek United BS. How do I make a complaint?
All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Leek United BS branches or the Customer Services Department at Leek United BS head office. We understand that complaints to Leek United BS are sorted out very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Leek United BS conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Leek United BS about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this 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 addressed 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.
