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Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Skipton BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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Frequently asked questions relating to the Skipton Building Society Solicitor Panel
My husband and I are buying a 2 bedroom apartment in Newcastle with a mortgage from Skipton Building Society. We would like to retain our lawyer but Skipton Building Society says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Skipton Building Society panel solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Skipton Building Society 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 lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Skipton Building Society
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 Skipton Building Society will not agree to this. Why was Skipton Building Society even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Skipton Building Society of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Skipton Building Society then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Skipton Building Society.
How up to date is your database of lawyers on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel? Do Skipton Building Society send you an updated list?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Skipton Building Society directly.
My grandmother passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a relatively small loan left on it of around £8000. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Skipton Building Society , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Skipton Building Society will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Skipton Building Society mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I hope to get a mortgage with Skipton Building Society. Is there anyway to cut out the solicitors to save us both money? My father said that years ago it was possible to take the documents into the local Land Registry office and they did the rest
If you are getting a mortgage with Skipton Building Society involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Skipton Building Society. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel.
I have paid off my mortgage with Skipton Building Society. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Skipton Building Society panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm
If you have finished paying off your Skipton Building Society 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 Skipton Building Society mortgage from the register. Skipton Building Society,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 Skipton Building Society has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Skipton Building Society has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Skipton Building Society mortgage has been paid off.
Can I register a complaint to Skipton Building Society about the lawyers being on the Skipton Building Society conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Skipton Building Society 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 addressed 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.