First Direct Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by First Direct and to assist in remaining on the First Direct Conveyancing Panel.

First Direct Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Is there a standard appeals process to prevent solicitors from being unfairly removed them from lender conveyancing panels?
There are thousands of firms across the UK who feel aggrieved claiming that they have been removed from lenders’ panels without an explanation or a good reason. It is highly unlikely, given that lenders have distanced themselves from creating a standardised appeals process for brokers, that an appeals process will be introduced for lawyers. Commenting on the call by brokers to have a standardised process the CML said’ “While we understand that some lenders do have an appeals process, it would not be appropriate for a trade body such as the CML to seek to be prescriptive about such a process.” Some lenders do of course set out an appeals policy. The Law Society does have information on it’s site that may be of assistance. If you would like to talk to one of our compliance experts about our Lender Panel Protection Service please contact us.

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Is it the case that the Law Society has recommended that firms check their status on the First Direct conveyancing panel?
The Scottish Law Society has advised that solicitors should check their panel status with lenders before accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the First Direct conveyancing panel. The recommendation arises from the practice of a number of mortgage lenders who remove solicitors from their panels without prior notice as part of their panel management system, which can lead to some solicitors discovering this only once instructed. This is sensible advice as a client finding out midway through a transaction that their lawyer is not on the approved lender panel is very frustrating and can lead to complaints. Many online consumer forums contain posts where someone is complaining about finding that their lawyer is not on a lender conveyancing panel. Such forums include moneysavingexpert.com
An established client of mine is purchasing a detached house for £750k in Leeds with a mortgage over GBP 410k. I am on the First Direct conveyancing panel but do First Direct have a separate approved panel when the advance is above 350k?
We only know of two or three lenders that operate a distinct approved solicitors panel where the mortgage advance is over a certain level. You should nevertheless check directly with First Direct. At one stage HSBC would only allow Sole practitioners to act for them where the mortgage was below £150,000. We are not sure if HSBC still operate such a condition. In your case it is best to check with First Direct
My firm is not on the First Direct conveyancing panel as well other lenders. My clients, who are getting a mortgage with First Direct would still like to instruct me regardless of the fact that we are not on the First Direct panel. Am I doing anything wrong is suggesting to my client that they use a firm down the road to act for First Direct on mortgage aspect of the conveyancing?
Please tread carefully here as what you are intending may not be acceptable to the mortgage company. It is possible that you (as a non-panel firm) or the mortgage applicant are not entitled instruct a panel firm of your choice. Lenders such as Nationwide BS make it clear to their panel firms that where a non-panel member firm is instructed by one of their mortgage applicants, the lender must appoint a panel firm to carry out its instructions and to liaise with the borrower's conveyancing firm. You also need to make the costs implications and potential for delay very clear to your client.
I rarely receive a copy of a valuation from a lender these days. Do my First Direct conveyancing panel obligations extend to checking the valuation details where I am acting on a purchase with First Direct as the lender?
There are various requirements are to followed if you wish to comply with your lender client’s instructions as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. (I) You must take reasonable steps to verify that there are no discrepancies between the description of the property as valued and the title and other documents which a reasonably competent conveyancer should obtain, and, if there are, you must tell First Direct immediately. (II) You should take reasonable steps to verify that the assumptions stated by the valuer about the title (for example, its tenure, easements, boundaries and restrictions on its use) in the valuation and as stated in First Direct’s mortgage offer are correct. If they are not, please let First Direct know as soon as possible as it will be necessary for First Direct to check with the valuer whether the valuation needs to be revised. First Direct conveyancing panel solicitors are not expected to assume the role of valuer. First Direct are simply trying to ensure that the valuer has valued the property based on correct information. Thirdly, First Direct recommend that you should advise the borrower that there may be defects in the property which are not revealed by the inspection carried out by their valuer and there may be omissions or inaccuracies in the report which do not matter to them as a lender but which would matter to the borrower. First Direct recommend that, if we send a copy of a valuation report that First Direct have obtained, you should also advise the borrower that the borrower should not rely on the report in deciding whether to proceed with the purchase and that he obtains his own more detailed report on the condition and value of the property, based on a fuller inspection such as a homebuyers survey or comprehensive survey. If you do not receive a copy of the valuation you can always ask for a copy of one from First Direct or the borrower. You still need to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Requirement relating to valuation reports even if you don't receive one directly. Failure to comply not only runs the risk of facing a claim by the lender but also being removed from the First Direct conveyancing panel
Prime Professional’s PII renewal form enquires if my firm had been removed off any lender panels in the last year. I just became aware that the practice is no longer on the First Direct conveyancing panel? Will that effect my insurance?
The best placed professionals to answer this question are your insurance brokers. The chances are that on the basis that you have not been removed for fraud or negligence reasons that there will be little or no impact. The main reason why a firm would be removed off of a lender panel is due to low volume of conveyancing cases although there may be a number of criteria for First Direct solicitor panel membership. Please remember that it is always important that you complete your insurance forms accurately.
I am on the First Direct conveyancing panel and scheduled to complete a purchase within the next week. My file does not contain a Legal Charge for the client to execute. Who do I contact at First Direct to obtain duplicate documents?
You would be advised to communicate with First Direct to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook contains an explicit inquiry for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. First Direct in their Part 2’s state:
It helps to disclose your First Direct conveyancing panel number.

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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of First Direct
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
YearDays*
2025 [no data]
2024 [no data]
2023 [no data]
2022 [no data]
2021 [no data]
2020 [no data]
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor