Find an Approved Solicitor on the Coutts
Conveyancing Panel
Coutts & Co Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires
I am selling my maisonette and the estate agent has just called to advise that the buyers are changing their law firm. The excuse is that Coutts & Co will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a big named mortgage company only engage with certain law firms?
Banks have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Santander, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 25 years.
Banks blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
Our son is purchasing a newly built flat with a home loan from Coutts & Co. His solicitor has advised him of a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?
The form is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when requested.
The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.
The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
What tools are available to find a local solicitor on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 miles to meet the lawyer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Coutts & Co solicitor panel.
My solicitors in Manchester have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Coutts & Co. Is it case that being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Coutts & Co Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Coutts & Co directly.
Can you point me to a directory of Coutts & Co panel conveyancers on the CML Handbook Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
My brother and I have had an offer accepted on a house I spoke to a lawyer recommended by my uncle and he advised using a law firm approved by Coutts & Co. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Coutts & Co if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Coutts & Co pointed out that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Coutts & Co 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Enquire of Coutts & Co for conveyancing panel firms in your area. 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 Coutts & Co 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 Coutts & Co conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Coutts & Co’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.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Coutts & Co on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Coutts & Co. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Coutts & Co will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Coutts & Co to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.