Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
Paratus Conveyancing Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Can my practice make a complaint to the CML about being removed from the Paratus conveyancing panel?
The CML is an association rather than a regulator and therefore will not investigate grievances against lenders. You can of course contact Lexsure to see if we can assist.
Are the CML planning on creating a searchable register search tool with a view
to list solicitors on the
Paratus conveyancing panel?
Lexsure has not been advised of any intention on the part of the CML to develop such a register.
Given my firm’s membership on the Paratus conveyancing panel how long am I obliged to archive the complete conveyancing file?
The CML Part II requirements of
Paratus are silent on this. Most mortgage companies address the issue of file retention via their Terms and Conditions where they generally provide that for evidential purposes, the firm must keep the file for a minimum six years from the date of the mortgage. Data imagining is normally
suitable compliance with this requirement. Many lenders point out in
that it is the practice of some fraudsters to demand the conveyancing
file on completion in order to destroy evidence that may later be
used against them. It is therefore important to retain these
documents to protect Paratus’s interest. To be
absolutely sure of Paratus requirements in this regard
please check the Terms and Conditions of Paratus’s
conveyancing panel acceptance.
The firm that I work for is on the
Paratus conveyancing panel. I am dealing with
Paratus mortgage on a purchase. My borrower client is asking not to disclose an issue to
Paratus. What do I do in this conflict situation?
When a solicitor is acting for both
Paratus and borrower there is potential for conflicts
to arise. You owe duties to both clients. All information received by
you from your client is confidential and cannot be disclosed without
the client’s consent. In the situation you find yourself in if the
purchaser will not consent to the information being passed on to the
lender the solicitor must cease to act for the Paratus
and it may well be prudent you to cease to act for the purchaser as
well. You can not tell the Paratus the reason for
termination of the retainer over and above the fact that a conflict
has arisen. The fact that you can no longer act should alert even the
most somnambulistic of lenders that something is wrong with the
borrower and/or purchase. The fact that you have disinstructed
yourself should not affect your Paratus conveyancing
panel status.
My lawyers pass me the odd LENDERmonitor email but I don't see that many important changes. For instance, Fortunately my practice on the
Paratus conveyancing panel and receive a notification simply telling me a change of address. Does that matter?
Yes it does matter because sending a communication or deeds to the wrong address can cause delays that might not only affect your borrower client but also affect your ability to remain on the
Paratus solicitor panel. Lets say that Paratus change their requirements as to where their panel firm send the deeds.
Do you change the details in your CMS? Do you make a note? Is this information passed on to secretaries and assistants? By virtue of your COT Paratus you are giving assurances that you will send the relevant documents within 10 days of receiving the TID. Putting to one side the academic question as to whether you are technically breaching an undertaking in sending it to the wrong address, you run the risk of
Paratus suspending you off the panel because they are not receiving the deeds in accordance with the COT. It will not be a valid excuse to say that you sent it to an out of date postal address or DX details.
my firm’s membership of the
Paratus conveyancing panel was revoked but was reinstated on appeal, do I need to disclose these details on my application for CQS accreditation?
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 negatively affect your firm’s application but gives the Law Society a complete picture of what has gone on.
Our practice is on the
Paratus
conveyancing panel and all set to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. My file does not contain a Mortgage Deed for the client to sign.
Who do I contact at Paratus to request substitute deeds?
You need to communicate with Paratus
to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook contains an explicit question for banks to cite who to contact to obtain standard documents.
Paratus in their Part 2’s state:
Always remember to disclose the firm’s Paratus conveyancing panel number.
Find a Lawyer on the Paratus Solicior Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Paratus
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2025 | [no data] |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | [no data] |
| 2021 | [no data] |
| 2020 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited Paratus Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Paratus borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Paratus panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Paratus lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Paratus
- Consent-to-Let help for Paratus
- Contractor Mortgages with Paratus
