State Bank of India UK Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by State Bank of India UK and to assist in remaining on the State Bank of India UK Solicitor Panel.

State Bank of India UK Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Will the fact that my firm subscribes to Alerts via this site assist in my application to join the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel?
The criteria to join the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel is likely to be fairly detailed and is unlikely to include signing up to LENDERmonitor alerts.

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Can you suggest any advice if we wish to challenge being removed from the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel?
Should you firm be removed from the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel and you are unaware of or disagree with the reasons for your removal you should: (a) Contact State Bank of India UK directly. (b) If there is an appeals process detailed on your letter you should follow the process.

In appealing a decision by State Bank of India UK, it may be useful to provide the following information:

  • Comprehensive disclosure of your firm’s transaction history
  • Your COMPLETIONmonitor reports, assuming you use the Lexsure software
  • Your recent claims history
  • comprehensive details of all staff in your firm and their role.
  • Note down if a solicitor has been admitted to the role on completion of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test.
  • Provide copy practising certificates, the firm's current PII schedule and the firm’s accountant's certificate, confirming the percentage of the firm's gross fee income is generated from residential conveyancing transactions

On appeal some solicitors have been able to regain membership to panels notwithstanding the policy by the respective lenders to refuse panel membership to firms with certain profiles or characteristics. The success is primarily due to the firms’ ability to persuade the lender to make an exception if there is sufficient evidence to reassure them that the firm is well risk-managed.

A recent SRA survey reveals that 76% of solicitors have been removed from a lender conveyancing panel. State Bank of India UK and other lenders have restricted their panel over the years. Why?
In operating open conveyancing panels, lenders such as State Bank of India UK face a number of fraud and negligence risks. While there is no authoritative source of data on lender exposure to solicitor–led mortgage fraud, anecdotal evidence from lenders indicates exposure on individual cases are often in the millions of pounds. The National Fraud Authority estimates that £1bn per year is lost in mortgage -related frauds in total, which is seen as a conservative estimate.

These risks are exacerbated by the lack of a comprehensive set of data on all conveyancing firms (which, for the avoidance of doubt, would include solicitors and conveyancers across the UK) which is in a readily accessible format. Currently, lenders vet the suitability of their panel firms against a variety of disparate, incomplete and potentially inaccurate sets of information. One top 5 lender pointed out to us that it is almost impossible to track individual fraudsters who move from firm to firm, especially where they are no longer registered or no longer hold a valid practicing certificate.

State Bank of India UK and other lenders are in varying stages of reviewing their approach to vetting firms on their conveyancing panels, to ensure their ongoing exposure to unsuitable firms is reduced. There is also regulatory impetus on lenders to ensure that they have satisfactory oversight of their third party panels, including a due-diligence process.

Are there conditions,outside the CML Part 2 requirements, that a firm should be aware of when on the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel?
In order to be on the State Bank of India UK 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 State Bank of India UK) are as follows:
  • 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.
  • 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 be responsible for the reconstitution of the title deeds (whether the title is registered or unregistered, at your own cost), where any deeds in your possession, or were last known to be in your possession, go missing.
  • To keep us informed of the reasons for any delay in your being able to send the title deeds and documents we require to us within 3 months of completion or evidence of proof of registration within that period. (We will send reminders if the deeds have not been received but will not acknowledge receipt of deeds.)
  • 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.
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 approved panels including the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel. We have Terms and Conditions of appointment which we are duty bound to comply with. Should I reference these Terms ?
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 State Bank of India UK 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.
If my application is successful will Conveyancing Quality Scheme membership guarantee my firm’s acceptance on to lenders conveyancing panels?
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 approved list of conveyancing solicitors. A number of mortgage companies now use CQS as the starting point for Panel acceptance such as HSBC.
My firm is listed on the State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel and scheduled to complete a purchase within the next week. I can not locate a Mortgage Deed for the client to sign. Who do I contact at State Bank of India UK to request substitute deeds?
You would be advised to communicate with State Bank of India UK to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook incorporates an individual question for lenders to reveal who to contact to obtain standard documents. State Bank of India UK in their Part 2’s state:
It is likely that you will need to quote your State Bank of India UK conveyancing panel number.

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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of State Bank of India UK
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
YearDays*
2025 [no data]
2024 [no data]
2023 [no data]
2022 [no data]
2021 [no data]
2020 [no data]
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor