Keystone Property Finance Conveyancing Panel Information

The Scottish Law Society has suggested that solicitors should check their panel status with lenders prior to accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the Keystone Property Finance conveyancing panel. The suggestion 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 mumsnet.com

Most lenders do not operate a specific buy to let conveyancing panel but we are hearing about a few that do. We do not know what the position is with Keystone Property Finance as at todays date. If you're about to receive instructions from a client on a buy to let purchase with a mortgage from Keystone Property Finance we suggest that you call Keystone Property Finance to check the position.

Keystone Property Finance approved solicitors are bound by the Part II instructions relating to Transfer of Equity. These are set out in Section 16.3. First, your firm must approve the form of Transfer of Equity (which should be in the Land Registry's standard form) and, if Keystone Property Finance require, the deed of covenant on their behalf. You will need to check Keystone Property Finance CML Part 2 conditions to see if Keystone Property Finance have standard forms of transfer and deed of covenant. Please note that this requirement can change from one transaction to another so do check! Second,When drafting or approving a transfer, you should bear in mind that: although the transfer should state that it is subject to the mortgage (identified by date and parties), it need give no details of the terms of the mortgage; the transfer need not state the amount of the mortgage debt. If it does, the figure should include both principal and interest at the date of completion, which you must check ; there should be no statement that all interest has been paid to date. Further obligations are set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook which have to be followed by all firms on the Keystone Property Finance conveyancing panel

It would be advisable to 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 negatively affect your application but gives the Law Society a complete picture of what has occured.

You would be advised to get in touch with Keystone Property Finance to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook has an explicit inquiry for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. Keystone Property Finance in their Part 2’s state: Please remember to quote the firm’s Keystone Property Finance conveyancing panel number.