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approved by Britannia
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Britannia list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
How does my firm apply to be on the Britannia Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Britannia Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Britannia Conveyancing Panel
Common questions asked concerning the Britannia Solicitor Panel
Much to my surprise I have been told by my broker that my lawyer is not on the Britannia Solicitor panel. What can I do to be sure that this is correct?
You need to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the conveyancing panel for Britannia.
Please assist. My lawyer is not to blame but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Britannia was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6. My lawyer has advised that as she is on the Britannia conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Britannia approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Britannia)which states that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Britannia.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Britannia conveyancing panel?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders or BSA do not require online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my solicitor is suspended from the Britannia Conveyancing panel prior to the completion date?
First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
I have paid off my mortgage with Britannia. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Britannia panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Britannia mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Britannia mortgage from the register. Britannia,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
but are not moving to another property
where the Britannia has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Britannia has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Britannia mortgage has been paid off.
I am selling my apartment. I had a double glazing fitted in month 7 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's lender, Britannia are being difficult. The solicitor who is on the Britannia conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Britannia are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Britannia have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Britannia have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Britannia 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.
Britannia have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Britannia or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Britannia will tell you what documents they want. Britannia will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Britannia will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
Other Topics
Transfer of Equity for BritanniaPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors