FAQs for the Sainsburys Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public
I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Sainsburys Bank fees should I instruct my family lawyer. How efficient are the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH as long as they're good and not exorbitantly priced. Would you recommend a specific law firm on the Sainsburys Bank panel?
Sainsburys Bank’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Sainsburys Bank will allow to act for them.
I am due to complete my purchase next Thursday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for Sainsburys Bank. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Sainsburys Bank’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Sainsburys Bank). Being on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these instructions.
I am buying a flat and need a conveyancing solicitor in Birmingham who is on the Sainsburys Bank solicitor. Can you recommend a local 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.
I am considering applying for a Sainsburys Bank mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 65 per cent loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Sainsburys Bank?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel, but Sainsburys Bank would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same conveyancing matter.
Do conveyancing solicitors on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
I recently had an offer accepted on a house. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their lawyers I paid an upfront payment of 225. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me to say that they were not on the Sainsburys Bank 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 Sainsburys Bank 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.
I am due to exchange contracts on my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in month 2010 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, Sainsburys Bank are being difficult. The solicitor who is on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Sainsburys Bank are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Sainsburys Bank have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Sainsburys Bank have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Sainsburys Bank may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.