Find a Law Firm
approved by RBS- 1st Active
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the RBS- 1st Active 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 The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active Conveyancing Panel
Q and A’s regarding the RBS- First Active Conveyancing Panel
My husband and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in Hackney with a mortgage from RBS- First Active. We would like to retain our solicitor but RBS- First Active says he's not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct one of the RBS- First Active panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for RBS- First Active
Our conveyancer has identified a problem with the lease for the property we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have put forward title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer has advised that as he is on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is RBS- First Active?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and RBS- First Active are the client. A precondition to being on the RBS- First Active approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS- First Active). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that RBS- First Active can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . 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.
I see that you have a post code search directory identifying solicitors on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my own conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I was expecting to move into my flat last Friday. My solicitor is on the RBS- First Active solicitors panel but has moved offices 8 weeks ago and had not informed RBS- First Active of their new address. RBS- First Active has locked down the release of mortgage funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local RBS- First Active branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
Do conveyancing solicitors on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
There is generally 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
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from RBS- First Active as we wish to carry out alterations or improvements our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
RBS- First Active do not ordinarily instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the RBS- First Active list
I was told three weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed
to by RBS- First Active. Is it usual for RBS- First Active to only issue the offer once my
solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for RBS- First Active to deal with your lawyers application to be on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
Other Topics
Transfer of Equity for RBS- First ActivePlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors