Coutts & Co Conveyancing Panel Information

No such training is arranged by the CML however they do organise numerous general conveyancing related conferences which are attended by firms on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel. Lexsure intend to run specific lender focused seminars in the near future including a webinar on Coutts & Co’s Part 2 obligations. Law firms on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel will be invited. Information about the webinar will be made available as part of the LENDERmonitor Alerts.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders, together with Coutts & Co and other lenders created a standard set of requirements where a conveyancer is representing a lender such as Coutts & Co alone in a residential conveyancing transaction. These legal instructions are contained at Part 3 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook and are to be followed together with Parts 1 & 2. The UK Finance have published an example requirements letter to the borrower’s lawyer 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 solicitor.

As is the case with the Law Society the Council of Licensed Conveyancers has begun dialogue with lenders and their representative bodies to see whether and how the risks that lenders wish to mitigate could be addressed through the regulatory framework rather than via ad hoc arrangements that can differ from lender to lender. We expect that that the CLC have been in touch with lenders such as Coutts & Co in the recent past.

One might ordinarily expect Coutts & Co via their Part Two obligations to address this but the Handbook is silent on deadlines to send deeds. Do look at the Terms of Coutts & Co’s Conveyancing Panel Appointment that you entered into. For many lender's these Terms have a provision along the following lines: ‘To keep us informed of the reasons for any delay in your being able to send the title deeds and documents we require to us within 3 months of completion or evidence of proof of registration within that period. (We will send reminders if the deeds have not been received but will not acknowledge receipt of deeds’ It is imperative to keep Coutts & Co updated. Law firms can often compound their problems by not communicating with the lender when there is a delay or problem.

In this situation please explain on the application what action you have taken to discover the reasons behind cancellation of your Coutts & Co panel membership. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before revocation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender putting you on notice?

You would be advised to communicate with Coutts & Co to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook has a specific question for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents. Coutts & Co in their Part 2’s state: It helps to disclose your Coutts & Co conveyancing panel reference.