TSB Conveyancing Panel Information

Section 16.2.1 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook applicable to a solicitor on the TSB 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’.

Although not necessarily published, lenders have varying criteria . We do not hold specific requirements relating to the questions raised as part of the application to be on the TSB conveyancing panel. Typically lenders need to have full knowledge of a firm including (but not limited to):

Full career history for each licensed conveyancer including registration date with Council of Licensed Conveyancers

House price discrepancies (declared to lender vs. registered at Land Registry)

List of all those staff who work within the conveyancing team

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

Full disciplinary history for each licensed conveyancer

List of fee-earners who are foreign qualified

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

Solicitor

and Conveyancing Quality Scheme

Whether the firm has ever applied for accreditation and the outcome of the application

In order to be on the TSB 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 TSB) are as follows:

• 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.
• If you are a sole practitioner, to arrange for appropriate locum cover from our panel where necessary. Your locum must be a member of the Conveyancing panel.
• You have the consent of all borrowers to apply for the deeds, before making any request for deeds. We will accept your request for deeds on the understanding that you have obtained such consent. If this is not the case then you should advise our Deeds Services Department in writing when you make your request
• 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.
• Without prejudice to your obligation to comply in full with the Safeguards provisions in the CML Lenders’ Handbook, to report to us as soon as possible any suspicion that you have about the genuineness of any transaction in any respect.

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 TSB as at todays date. If you're about to receive instructions from a client on a buy to let purchase with a mortgage from TSB we suggest that you call TSB to check the position.

In this situation please explain on the form what action you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your TSB panel membership. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before termination of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender putting you on notice?

You should get in touch with TSB to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates an individual inquiry for banks to enumerate who to contact to obtain standard documents. TSB in their Part 2’s state: It is likely that you will need to disclose your TSB conveyancing panel number.