Scottish Widows Conveyancing Panel Information

Criteria differ from lender to lender. We do not hold specific requirements relating to the questions raised as part of the application to be on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. Typically lenders need to have full knowledge of a firm including (but not limited to):

Structure of firm and, where applicable, its group

conveyancer client account(s) details

Full complaints history for each conveyancing solicitor

List of all those who can sign off the Certificate Of Title

Whether the firm has ever knowingly accepted instructions on transactions involving Sale and Rent Back, Back to Back, Exchange and Delayed Completion and Lease Option, Below Market Value.

Full career history for each solicitor including admission date to the relevant Law Society

Whether the firm has ever accepted instructions in respect of property clubs and investment schemes

Firm name, address and contact details including all branches (including evidence of existence through risk-based physical visits and Google Streetview checks)

Number of partners per branch of the firm

Whether any lender has ever made a claim against the firm’s PII cover

Scottish Widows approved solicitors are bound by the Part II instructions relating to Transfer of Equity. These are set out in Section 16.3. First, your firm must approve the form of Transfer of Equity (which should be in the Land Registry's standard form) and, if Scottish Widows require, the deed of covenant on their behalf. You will need to check Scottish Widows CML Part 2 conditions to see if Scottish Widows have standard forms of transfer and deed of covenant. Please note that this requirement can change from one transaction to another so do check! Second,When drafting or approving a transfer, you should bear in mind that: although the transfer should state that it is subject to the mortgage (identified by date and parties), it need give no details of the terms of the mortgage; the transfer need not state the amount of the mortgage debt. If it does, the figure should include both principal and interest at the date of completion, which you must check ; there should be no statement that all interest has been paid to date. Further obligations are set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook which have to be followed by all firms on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel

With mortgage companies and solicitors working so closely with one another it is surprising that there has not been greater demand for the introduction of a bit of transparency regarding not just the figures for the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel but for all bank panel listings

9 consumers attempt to locate a solicitor on the Scottish Widows panel on a monthly basis in Hendon. Feel free to contact the Lexsure team who will tell 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 cessation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

You would be advised to contact Scottish Widows to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook includes an express section for banks to reveal who to contact to obtain standard documents. Scottish Widows in their Part 2’s state: You will need to quote your Scottish Widows solicitors panel reference.