Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
Sainsbury's Bank Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Why are Estate Agents using search tools to check if lawyers are on a lenders conveyancing panel?
The fact of the matter is that estate agents will be suffering if their clients start out on the conveyancing process using a conveyancer who is not on the panel with the purchaser’s chosen lender. Many
conveyancing firms are only discovering when they begin working on a
case that they are no longer able to work with that lender. Given
the inevitable resultant delays in the transaction the chances of an
abortive deal increases dramatically. in the circumstances there is
understandable anguish on the part of the estate agent as a result of
the lost time should the client have to change solicitors .
Theoretically Sainsbury's Bank could request or audit my files as I am on the
Sainsbury's Bank conveyancing panel. What do I do if I receive such a request?
We can't comment specifically on
Sainsbury's Bank. Many major lenders are now introducing ‘file auditing’ as standard practice in relation to completed matters. This raises questions of confidentiality in relation to the buyer client and the purpose to which the results of such audits will be put. The starting point is to remember that the file does not belong to your firm, it belongs to the ‘client’. But, of course, we will normally have two clients – the buyer and the lender - and you will owe a duty of confidentiality to each. So basically, you have to separate the file and just send the lender the parts solely relating to themselves. But, of course, as this will basically be correspondence with the lender, mortgage instructions etc.
Check with your COLP but a firm should not send the complete conveyancing file without the buyer client’s express consent – and if she is in dispute with the lender he is hardly likely to agree. However, if the lender can establish a prima facie case of fraud, then you may be under an obligation to disclose the whole file.
The emerging convention is that lenders are including an authority to disclose in loan application forms to counter this problem. Mortgage Express v Sawali, [2010] EWHC 3054 (Ch) indicates that such provisions are valid. Please click here for more information about that case.
Do banks such as
Sainsbury's Bank operate detached conveyancing panel for buy to let mortgages?
The majority of 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
Sainsbury's Bank as at todays date. If you're about to receive instructions from a client on a buy to let purchase with a mortgage from
Sainsbury's Bank we suggest that you call
Sainsbury's Bank to check the position.
My PI renewal application this year contained the following question: ‘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 approved panels including the
Sainsbury's Bank conveyancing panel. We have Terms and Conditions of appointment which we have to follow. Do I disclose these these Conditions ?
The key here is the caveat ‘more onerous’.
You have to try and take an objective view as to whether the Terms relating to the
Sainsbury's Bank 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 alert but I seldom see significant changes. By way of illustration, My firm on the
Sainsbury's Bank conveyancing panel and receive a notification only advising of 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 impact your chances of staying on the
Sainsbury's Bank solicitor panel. Is possible next month that Sainsbury's Bank change their requirements as to where their panel firm send the deeds.
Do you update the details in your case management system? Is this recorded anywhere? Is this information passed on to secretaries and assistants? By virtue of your COT Sainsbury's Bank you are giving assurances that you will forward the deeds 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
Sainsbury's Bank 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.
Our firm had their Sainsbury's Bank panel membership revoked but we have not yet been given an explanation yet.
I am completing a CQS renewal questionnaire what details do I need to report?
In the circumstances please explain on the form what action you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your
Sainsbury's Bank panel status.
In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before cessation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?
Our practice is on the
Sainsbury's Bank
conveyancing panel and all set to complete a purchase within the next week. I dont have a Legal Charge for the client to execute.
Who do I contact at Sainsbury's Bank to get a duplicate Deed?
You should get in touch with Sainsbury's Bank
to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook includes an individual question for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents.
Sainsbury's Bank in their Part 2’s state:
It is likely that you will need to quote your Sainsbury's Bank conveyancing panel number.
Find a Lawyer on the Sainsbury's Bank Sainsburys Bank Conveyancing Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Sainsbury's Bank
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 Sainsbury's Bank Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Sainsbury's Bank borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Sainsbury's Bank panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Sainsbury's Bank lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Sainsbury's Bank
- Consent-to-Let help for Sainsbury's Bank
- Contractor Mortgages with Sainsbury's Bank
