Find a Law Firm
approved by BankOfScotlandPrivate

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

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Bank of Scotland Private Banking Conveyancing Panel

Bank of Scotland Private Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires

I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Bank of Scotland Private panel of conveyancing solicitors. Is it practical to instruct different lawyers?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
Much to my surprise my conveyancer is asking me for proof of ID documents stating that this is part of his obligations as a solicitor on the Bank of Scotland Private Solicitor panel. Can this be correct?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Terms and Conditions that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that Bank of Scotland Private also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with Bank of Scotland Private CML Handbook requirements last updated on Bank of Scotland Private
Are the lawyers identified as being on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Bank of Scotland Private?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Bank of Scotland Private directly.
I am attempting to get my ex-wife removed the mortgage deeds. Can Bank of Scotland Private really tell me which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but Bank of Scotland Private then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Bank of Scotland Private solicitors panel
Do conveyancing solicitors on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
In the main 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 had instructed online solicitors located in Cardiff who are on the Bank of Scotland Private solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £175 for the legal aspects of the Bank of Scotland Private mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Bank of Scotland Private?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Bank of Scotland Private but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Bank of Scotland Private will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called into my local branch Bank of Scotland Private on various occasions and told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Bank of Scotland Private conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Bank of Scotland Private. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Bank of Scotland Private 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 Bank of Scotland Private to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.