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approved by Bath BS

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Bath BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

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Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

How does my firm apply to be on the Bath Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Bath Building Society Conveyancing Panel?

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Bath Building Society Dual Representation Solicitors

Bath Building Society does not operate a Conveyancing Panel, but does allow certain lawyers to conduct dual representation subject to meeting their criteria.

For the purposes of clarification, references on this page to "conveyancing panel" mean the ability of your lawyer represent both you and Bath Building Society in their capacity as lender.

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At the request of bath Building Society, we remind any home buyer looking to obtain a mortgage with the Society to first check with the Society that your preferred conveyancing lawyer can represent you and the Society in the same transaction (known as 'dual representation').
For what reasons could a law firm be removed from the Bath Building Society approved conveyancing panel?
According to a recent survey report by the solicitors regulator three quarters of law firms had been excluded from a lender panel. The top reasons in order are :
  1. lack of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Bath Building Society
My lawyer has uncovered a difference when comparing the surveyor’s assumptions in Bath Building Society’s home valuation report and what is in the legal papers for the property. My lawyer has advised that as he is on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel he is obliged to check that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s approach right?
A precondition to being on the Bath Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Bath Building Society) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
Do I need to have a meeting at the offices of the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the mortgage deed? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Leeds so that I can attend their offices if required.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for Bath Building Society undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.
The firm that I recently instructed on my house acquisition in Newcastle has without warning shut down. They were on acting for me because I needed a firm on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £175 for searches. What are my options?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then let them know straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to help
is it true that all solicitor firms on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel overseen by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Bath Building Society 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).
Do most banks operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel requirements are different to Bath Building Society’s conveyancing panel requirements.
Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Bath Building Society. Solicitors have been instructed? What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Bath Building Society?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Bath Building Society done the valuation? Have you advised Bath Building Society as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Bath Building Society conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued

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Transfer of Equity for Bath Building Society

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