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approved by Coutts & Co
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Coutts & Co list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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Q and A’s regarding the Coutts & Co Solicitor Panel
My fiance and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in Leeds with a mortgage from Coutts & Co. We have a lawyer but Coutts & Co says he's not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct one of the Coutts & Co panel firms 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 Coutts & Co use our lawyer?
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 Coutts & Co 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 solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Coutts & Co
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 Coutts & Co will not agree to this. Why was Coutts & Co even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Coutts & Co of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Coutts & Co then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Coutts & Co.
I require the services of a Coutts & Co panel solicitor in Stirling. Could you help me?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Coutts & Co panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Coutts & Co to find out which solicitors in Coutts & Co are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. At a fee of one pound per month it is not expensive to register on the site
What happens if my lawyer’s firm is suspended from the Coutts & Co Solicitor panel before completion?
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 at a cost.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Coutts & Co as we wish to carry out alterations or improvements our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
Coutts & Co do not ordinarily instruct a member of their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Coutts & Co list
Hi, thinking about buying a house off my mate. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I plan to obtain a mortgage with Coutts & Co. Is it possible to avoid using solicitors to save us both money? My dad reckons back in the day he did a lot of it himself, just went into the land registry office and providing them with the info they needed himself
If you are getting a mortgage with Coutts & Co involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Coutts & Co 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 Coutts & Co. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Coutts & Co conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to Coutts & Co. All solicitors 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.