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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.
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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 Solicitor Panel
My fiance and I are buying a 1 bedroom flat in Hackney with a mortgage from RBS- First Active. We have a lawyer 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 solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; Can we not simply insist that RBS- First Active use our lawyer?
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. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for RBS- First Active
Expecting to move into my new home next Thursday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as as he informs me that he is duty bound to validate that it is in order for RBS- First Active. What risks do RBS- First Active expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in RBS- First Active’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on RBS- First Active). Being on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these instructions.
Do I need to visit the offices of the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the mortgage deed? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Liverpool
so that I can attend their offices if required.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for RBS- First Active undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.
I am attempting to get my ex-wife taken off the mortgage deeds. Can RBS- First Active really insist on which solicitor I can or can not use?
You can use any solicitor you like but RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active solicitors panel
I previously instructed online conveyancers based in Manchester who are on the RBS- First Active solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the RBS- First Active mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by RBS- First Active?
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 RBS- First Active but by your lawyers. Some firms on the RBS- First Active will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a RBS- First Active conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to RBS- First Active about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house. My financial adviser suggested a solicitor I paid an upfront payment of 225. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me to say that they were not on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the RBS- First Active panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
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Transfer of Equity for RBS- First ActivePlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors