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

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Secure Trust Bank PLC Conveyancing Panel

Frequently asked questions relating to the Secure Trust Bank Conveyancing Panel

A lawyer my husband and I wanted to use for conveyancing on a purchase said he will levy higher legal fees if my lender is due to their unusual legal requirements. Will I regret using Secure Trust Bank? Is Secure Trust Bank conveyancing so much more difficult?
Secure Trust Bank conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders. It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender. It is not clear if your lawyer is on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as Secure Trust Bank will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
Can you clarify something for me?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Secure Trust Bank was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My solicitor has advised that as she is on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Secure Trust Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Secure Trust Bank)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Secure Trust Bank.
I note that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I instruct them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am buying a terraced house and getting a mortgage with Secure Trust Bank. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel in your location.
Do conveyancing solicitors on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
There is generally no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their service
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Secure Trust Bank about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get 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.

After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having made sure that they are on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or I've read lots of mortgage guides,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Secure Trust Bank conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Secure Trust Bank will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Secure Trust Bank will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Secure Trust Bank you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.