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approved by RBS - Virgin One

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the RBS - Virgin One list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One Conveyancing Panel

RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions

I instructed a firm of solicitors to carry out on my purchase three weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with RBS - Virgin One. The firm assured me that they are on RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and gave me their panel reference. RBS - Virgin One then told me that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What do I do from here? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the conveyancing panel for RBS - Virgin One?
You may be very frustrated with the lawyer but if it only go take a few more days they it may be worth waiting as, depending on how far progressed you are you may end up delaying the transaction by a number of weeks if you need to replace your solicitor You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the RBS - Virgin One as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
We are nearing an exchange and my parents having transferred the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my lender RBS - Virgin One. I am advised that, being on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform RBS - Virgin One if the balance of the mortgage advance is coming from anyone other than me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with RBS - Virgin One to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to RBS - Virgin One if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the RBS - Virgin One solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
The solicitors that I recently instructed on my house acquisition in Manchester has without warning closed. They were on acting for me because I had to have a solicitor on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to assist
Are all solicitor practices on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel overseen by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Why might a lender such as RBS - Virgin One withdraw a mortgage offer?
Lenders such as RBS - Virgin One can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. If RBS - Virgin One withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • Where information comes to RBS - Virgin One ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend
  • Where the purchase price and borrowers direct contribution differ to details on the mortgage application form completed by the borrower
  • Where the lender has to take account a recent change in law
  • Where the Lender’s right to possession is fettered in some way
  • If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;
At last I have had an offer on an apartment accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with RBS - Virgin One?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with RBS - Virgin One and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.