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approved by Progressive
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Progressive list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Progressive Building Society Conveyancing Panel
Frequently asked questions relating to the Progressive BS Conveyancing Panel
My Solicitor has never been on on the Progressive BS Solicitor Panel. Is it possible for me to continue with my preferred solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the Progressive BS approved list?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a Progressive BS mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the Progressive BS conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by Progressive BS. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
Our conveyancer has identified a defect with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing. The other side have put forward defective title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer has advised that as he is on the Progressive BS conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Progressive BS?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Progressive BS are the client. A precondition to being on the Progressive BS approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Progressive BS). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Progressive BS can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
What tools are available to find a local solicitor on the Progressive BS conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 kilometers to meet the lawyer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel search on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Progressive BS solicitor panel.
I am considering refinancing my home does my lawyer have to be on the Progressive BS Solicitor panel?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Progressive BS conveyancing panel, but Progressive BS would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
I previously instructed online solicitors located in Birmingham who are on the Progressive BS solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £150 for the legal aspects of the Progressive BS mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Progressive BS?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Progressive BS but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Progressive BS will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
We were going to get a DIP from Progressive BS this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the Progressive BS recommend a solicitor on the Progressive BS conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Progressive BS conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Progressive BS through the process.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Progressive BS mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Progressive BS mortgage in order to sell?
In terms of the Progressive BS mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Progressive BS in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.