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.

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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 Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Is it conceivable that Royal Bank of Scotland will instruct a different lawyer on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel for a further advance during the lifetime of a mortgage?

Paragraph 16.2.1 of Part 1 of the Handbook applicable to a solicitor on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel reads ‘Our mortgage secures further advances. Consequently, when a further advance is required for alterations or improvements to the property we will not normally instruct a member of our conveyancing panel but if you are instructed the appropriate provisions of this Handbook will apply’.

Who do building societies allow to be on their Conveyancing Panels?

In the same way that there is a unique Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel most building societies, operate a conveyancing panel for solicitors and other conveyancers that the lender will instruct. Terms and Conditions and criteria for inclusion on a building society conveyancing panel vary from lender-to-lender. Having CQS accreditation may be a requirement. Institutional lenders, such as a building society, is a client and is entitled to instruct the solicitor or conveyancer of its choosing (who, in turn, is free to accept or refuse instructions). Therefore, if lender and borrower cannot agree which solicitor or conveyancer should represent them jointly, they would usually proceed on a separate representation basis. The BSA have not published the equivalent of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 3s.

I noticed the following question on my PI renewal form this year ‘Has your Firm been asked by a lender to agree to more onerous terms and conditions than provided for in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook?’ My firm is on numerous bank panels including the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel. We have Terms and Conditions of appointment which we are duty bound to comply with. Should I reference these Conditions ?

The concern here is if you are expect to enter into ‘more onerous’ conditions that than the Handbook obligations. You have to try and take an objective view as to whether the Terms relating to the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing appointment (or other terms for other lenders) are ‘more onerous’ than the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Conditions. Depending on the Terms you may need to provide details on your renewal form. If you are in any doubt please call your broker to discuss before moving forward on this question.

My lawyers pass me the odd LENDERmonitor notification but I seldom see significant changes. By way of illustration, I am on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel and receive a notification simply telling me a change of address. Isn't that just noise?

It is important that you take note of such changes 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 Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel. Lets say that Royal Bank of Scotland change their requirements as to where their panel firm send the deeds. Do you change the details in your case management system? Do you make a note? Is this information passed on to secretaries and assistants? By virtue of your COT Royal Bank of Scotland you are giving assurances that you will send the relevant documents within 10 days of receiving the Title Information Document. 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 Royal Bank of Scotland 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 their old address.

If my application is successful will CQS membership guarantee my firm’s acceptance on to lenders conveyancing panels?

CQS accreditation is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a prerequisite for firms wishing to join their panels. A number of Lenders now use the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation as the starting point for Panel membership as is the case with Astra Mortgages.

I am on the Royal Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel and all set to complete a purchase within the next few weeks. I can not locate a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute. Who do I contact at Royal Bank of Scotland to request substitute deeds?

You would be advised to get in touch with Royal Bank of Scotland to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook contains an individual section for banks to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents. Royal Bank of Scotland in their Part 2’s state:

You will need to quote the firm’s 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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