Find a Law Firm
approved by SuffolkBuildingSociety
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the SuffolkBuildingSociety 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 Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Examples of recent questions relating to the Suffolk Building Society Solicitor Panel
I am in the process of selling my maisonette and the estate agent has just texted me to warn that the buyers are switching law firm. I am told that this is due to the fact that Suffolk Building Society will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. On what basis would a big named lender only engage with certain lawyers?
Banks have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide , have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for decades.
Banks blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
Can you clarify something for me?. My lawyer is not to blame but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Suffolk Building Society was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 10 days inc Day of week eg. Mon. My lawyer says that as she is on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer valid.
A precondition to being on the Suffolk Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Suffolk Building Society)which states that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Suffolk Building Society.
I require the services of a Suffolk Building Society panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
It is not clear why you need a Suffolk Building Society panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Suffolk Building Society to find out which solicitors in Suffolk Building Society are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the Suffolk Building Society panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advise that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing
Do most lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel requirements are different to Suffolk Building Society’s conveyancing panel criteria.
Suffolk Building Society 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 Suffolk Building Society or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Suffolk Building Society will tell you what documents they want. Suffolk Building Society 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. Suffolk Building Society 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.