Examples of recent questions relating to the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Panel
from members of the public
I appointed a firm of solicitors to work on my house purchase 4 weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with National Westminster Bank. The firm confirmed to me that they are on National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel and provided me their panel number. National Westminster Bank then told me that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What happens next? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the approved panel for National Westminster Bank?
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 National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the National Westminster Bank as to how long they think it will take to get the firm to get back on the panel.
Can you help?. For no fault of my lawyer but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from National Westminster Bank was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6. My solicitor has advised that as she is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer acceptable to the lender.
A precondition to being on the National Westminster Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on National Westminster Bank)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to National Westminster Bank.
I note that you have a search directory listing firms on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I was due to complete on my flat two days ago. My solicitor is on the National Westminster Bank solicitors panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed National Westminster Bank of their new address. National Westminster Bank is now refusing to release my funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is a rare situation indeed. Most 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 National Westminster Bank branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
When it comes to lenders such as National Westminster Bank do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
Are all solicitors on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I'm at the point of looking at apartments and am about to put in an offer. Should I already have a conveyancer appointed at this stage? I intend to finance via a home loan with National Westminster Bank
It would be sensible to have your start your search soon rather than later. 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 National Westminster Bank , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.