FAQs for the Sainsburys Bank Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
Is there a reason why all UK lawyers aren't included on the Sainsburys Bank Solicitor panel?
Pre- 2008 most lenders had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 conducted a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors that you are dealing with. Consequently, lenders have regularly sought more information from law firms about their operations and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of transactions. Many firms that have been excluded from lender panels have 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Such firms were never going to meet the criteria of volume of transactions the lenders required.
My husband and I changing mortgage lender for our penthouse with Sainsburys Bank. We have a son 19 who lives with us. The solicitor on the Sainsburys Bank 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 property is forfeited by the lender. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this form unique to the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we remortgaged 3 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 Sainsburys Bank 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 Sainsburys Bank .This is solely used to protect the Sainsburys Bank 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 Sainsburys Bank 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.
I am buying a flat and need a conveyancing solicitor in Liverpool who is on the Sainsburys Bank solicitor. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Sainsburys Bank . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
We're in Liverpool, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is Sainsburys Bank , but our solicitor is on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
I'm in the throws of viewing apartments and am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have a conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I intend to finance via a mortgage with Sainsburys 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 estate agent. As you are getting a mortgage with Sainsburys Bank , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel.
My existing mortgage is with Sainsburys Bank. My uncle retired last week and wants to pay off the mortgage left on the property. After Sainsburys Bank is paid, I want to transfer the property to my mother's name; How long does the process take? Do we need two separate solicitors on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel? I do not intend to live at the property once the Sainsburys Bank mortgage is discharged.
Although you do need to retain the services of a lawyer they dont
need to be on the Sainsburys Bank panel.
You will need a solicitor to draw up the transfer and
to deal with the Land Registry formalities. The only thing you need to
consider is that by selling at an undervalue so ask your lawyer about
the implications. There could be an inheritance tax issue if you die
within 7 years of this. There's no capital gains tax for you as it is
your main residence.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Sainsburys Bank mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Sainsburys Bank mortgage in order to sell?
As regards the Sainsburys Bank mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Sainsburys Bank in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.