Royal Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel Information

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

Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

How does my firm apply to be on the Royal Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel?

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How can my firm be reinstated onto the Royal Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel?

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Royal Bank of Scotland Conveyancing 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.

Can you give me an example of some of the reports available via COMPLETIONmonitor to support my appeal to be reinstated on the Royal Bank of Scotland solicitor panel?

There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:

Average time frame to register charges at the Land Registry
Average time frame to send deeds to the lender (calculated from completion date or title registration)
Current and historic missed priority dates
Buy to Let transactions
Analysis as to the nature of clients (e.g.existing/new/seen in person)

Are there conditions,outside the CML Part 2 requirements, that a firm should be aware of when on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel?

In order to be on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel solicitors have to complete an application form and agree Terms and Conditions. A sample of 5 conditions that we see amongst many lenders Terms (but not necessarily Royal Bank of Scotland) are as follows:

To carry out our instructions with reasonable care and skill, ensuring that all employees carrying out mortgage work on our behalf are qualified and competent to do so
To notify us in writing of any change in your details as held on our records for example, change of address, telephone number, document exchange number email address. Notification must be given to us at least 10 days before the change will be effective.
To forward the title deeds and documents to another solicitor/conveyancer within 24 hours of an instruction from us requiring you to do so. On forwarding the deeds as instructed you will confirm to us that you have done so. Upon receipt of your confirmation, we will release you from all undertakings relating to your holding the title deeds.
You have the consent of all borrowers to apply for the deeds, before making any request for deeds. We will accept your request for deeds on the understanding that you have obtained such consent. If this is not the case then you should advise our Deeds Services Department in writing when you make your request
To quote on all communications with us relating to deeds/registration issues, whether by telephone or in writing, the panel number that we provide for each practising address and the mortgage account or application number for the mortgage concerned.

I have been a solicitor for nearly 35 years enjoy an unblemished record and have been refused acceptance on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel with no explanation. Am I not entitled to to know why?

For most lenders participation on the lender's panel of conveyancers is at the absolute discretion of the the lender. Many lenders reserve the right to accept or reject any application without giving any reason. You should check your original application to join the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel to see if you are entitled to a reason.

When in comes to leasehold title investigations do Royal Bank of Scotland panel solicitors have to examine whether there is a missing freeholder?

Assuming that your firm in is on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel and you are representing them in relation to a leasehold property, you must report to them if it becomes apparent that the landlord is either absent or insolvent. If Royal Bank of Scotland are to lend, they may require indemnity insurance. In any event,you will need to check Royal Bank of Scotland’s specific requirements. Notwithstanding whether Royal Bank of Scotland will lend in such circumstances you still need to advise the borrower (unless you are acting for Royal Bank of Scotland alone) as to the risks of buying a property with an insolvent or absentee freeholder.

If my application is successful will Conveyancing Quality Scheme acceptance secure my firm’s acceptance on to lenders conveyancing panels?

The Law Society’s CQS membership gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a prerequisite for firms wishing to join their panels. Some Lenders now use the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation as the starting point for Panel approval such as Santander.

I am on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel and all set to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. My papers do not include a Legal Charge for the client to execute. Who do I contact at Royal Bank of Scotland to obtain duplicate documents?

You would be advised to communicate with Royal Bank of Scotland to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook has an explicit section for banks to enumerate who to contact to obtain standard documents. Royal Bank of Scotland in their Part 2’s state:

Don’t forget to disclose your Royal Bank of Scotland solicitors panel number.

Find a Lawyer on the Royal Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel

Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Royal Bank of Scotland

This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.

Year	Days*
2024	[no data]
2023	[no data]
2022	[no data]
2021	[no data]
2020	[no data]
2019	23.5

* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor

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