Find a Law Firm
approved by Beverley BS
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Beverley BS 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 Beverley Building Society Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Beverley Building Society Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Beverley Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Frequently asked questions relating to the Beverley Building Society Conveyancing Panel
My partner and I are novices when it comes to buying a property. Within the 48 hours our property lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through in anticipation of exchanging contracts shortly. Beverley Building Society have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our solicitor is not on their approved list of lawyers. Is this a problem?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.
In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitors should contact Beverley Building Society and see if they can apply for membership of the Beverley Building Society conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable Beverley Building Society will instruct their own solicitors to act. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the Beverley Building Society conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you have another set of people involved.
Please help. My lawyer is assuring me that she is duty-bound to conduct a Local Authority search because the firm are on the Beverley Building Society approved lawyer panel. Is my lawyer correct?
You have limited options available to you. As you are taking a mortgage with Beverley Building Society your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Beverley Building Society’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Beverley Building Society. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
How up to date is your search tool for the Beverley Building Society conveyancing panel? Do Beverley Building Society send you an updated list?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Beverley Building Society conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Beverley Building Society directly.
Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is suspended from the Beverley Building Society Solicitor panel prior to the completion date?
First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Beverley Building Society have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As you are obtaining a mortgage with Beverley Building Society your lawyer must to check the Beverley Building Society conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Beverley Building Society . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Beverley Building Society where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Beverley Building Society. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Beverley Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Beverley Building Society conveyancing panel.
The for formalities of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Beverley Building Society. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Beverley Building Society. How does one go about formally complaining?
Almost all banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Beverley Building Society branches or the Customer Services Department at Beverley Building Society head office. Ordinarily complaints to Beverley Building Society are sorted out very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.