Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel Information

The CML, along with Bank of Scotland and other members created a standard set of instructions where a solicitor is representing a lender such as Bank of Scotland alone in a residential conveyancing matter. These obligations are contained at Part III of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook and are to be read in conjunction with Parts 1 & 2. The UK Finance have published an example requirements letter to the borrower’s conveyancing solicitor for adaptation by the lender's conveyancer, and sets out to the borrower's conveyancer, the documentary and information requirements of the lender's panel lawyer.

The requirements to join the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel is likely to be fairly detailed and is unlikely to include signing up to LENDERmonitor alerts.

In the same way that there is a unique Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel most building societies, operate a conveyancing panel for solicitors and other conveyancers that the lender will instruct. Terms and Conditions and criteria for inclusion on a building society conveyancing panel vary from lender-to-lender. Having CQS accreditation may be a requirement. Institutional lenders, such as a building society, is a client and is entitled to instruct the solicitor or conveyancer of its choosing (who, in turn, is free to accept or refuse instructions). Therefore, if lender and borrower cannot agree which solicitor or conveyancer should represent them jointly, they would usually proceed on a separate representation basis. The BSA have not published the equivalent of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 3s.

With lenders and property lawyers working so closely with one another it is surprising that there has not been much call for the introduction of a bit of transparency regarding not just the figures for the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel but for all lender panels

We would recommend that you provide details of the date of removal, information on the reason for removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This should not adversely impact your firm’s application but gives the CQS team viability as to what has gone on.

You should get in touch with Bank of Scotland to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook has an explicit section for lenders to reveal who to contact to obtain standard documents. Bank of Scotland in their Part 2’s state: Always remember to disclose your Bank of Scotland solicitors panel number.