Scottish Widows Conveyancing Panel Information

The fact of the matter is that estate agents will be feeling the pain 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 .

Lexsure only know of two or three lenders that operate a separate approved solicitors panel where the mortgage advance is over a certain level. You should nevertheless check directly with Scottish Widows. At one stage HSBC would only allow Sole practitioners to act for them where the mortgage was below £150,000. We are not sure if HSBC still operate such a condition. In your case it is best to check with Scottish Widows

When a solicitor is acting for both Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows and it may well be prudent you to cease to act for the purchaser as well. You can not tell the Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows conveyancing panel status.

15 consumers attempt to locate a conveyancer on the Scottish Widows panel every 4 weeks in Hendon. The lenderpanel directory service team who will show you how your firm can be listed by those searching for conveyancing in Hendon.

In this situation please explain on the form what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your Scottish Widows panel status. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before revocation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender advising you as to their reasons?

You would be advised to communicate with Scottish Widows to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook contains an individual inquiry for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. Scottish Widows in their Part 2’s state: Always remember to disclose your Scottish Widows solicitors panel reference.