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Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Natwest Bank list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the National Westminster Bank plc Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the National Westminster Bank plc Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the National Westminster Bank plc Conveyancing Panel
FAQs : The National Westminster Bank Solicitor Panel
I am obtaining a mortgage with National Westminster Bank. I intend to enlist the help of a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the National Westminster Bank Solicitor panel include Licensed Conveyancers
National Westminster Bank’s approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders associated to the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company National Westminster Bank will not agree to this. Why was National Westminster Bank even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform National Westminster Bank of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to National Westminster Bank then they would have to discontinue acting for you and National Westminster Bank.
Are there any apps to help find a local solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 miles to meet the solicitor.
You can use 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 National Westminster Bank solicitor panel.
My solicitors in Leeds have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with National Westminster Bank. Is it case that being on the National Westminster Bank 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 National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting National Westminster Bank directly.
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 National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel requirements are different to National Westminster Bank’s conveyancing panel requirements.
We expect to receive a DIP from National Westminster Bank this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the National Westminster Bank recommend a solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the National Westminster Bank through the process.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having checked that they are on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
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Having read lots of house buying,I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
National Westminster Bank will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually National Westminster Bank will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey.
You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
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Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with National Westminster Bank you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.