RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by RBS - Virgin One and to assist in remaining on the RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel.

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How does my firm apply to be on the RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel?

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How can my firm be reinstated onto the RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel?

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RBS - Virgin One Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Do RBS - Virgin One or the Council of Mortgage Lenders run training seminars for the RBS - Virgin One approved solicitor panel in the same way that CQS run CPD Courses for accredited firms?

No such training is arranged by the CML although they do arrange a number of useful legal related conferences which are attended by firms on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel. Lexsure intend to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on RBS - Virgin One’s Part 2 obligations. Practitioners on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel are welcome. Further details will be communicated as part of the LENDERmonitor Alerts.

Can you recommend what we should do if we wish to challenge being removed from the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel?

Should you firm be removed from the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and you are unaware of or disagree with the reasons for your removal you should: (a) Contact RBS - Virgin One directly. (b) If there is an appeals process detailed on your letter you should follow the process.

In appealing a decision by RBS - Virgin One, it may be useful to provide the following information:

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

On appeal some firms 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 has a healthy attitude towards risk mitigation.

Who do building societies accept on their Conveyancing Panels?

In the same way that there is a unique RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel most building societies, operate a conveyancing panel for solicitors and other conveyancers that the lender will instruct. Terms and Conditions and criteria for inclusion on a building society conveyancing panel vary from lender-to-lender. Having CQS accreditation may be a requirement. Institutional lenders, such as a building society, is a client and is entitled to instruct the solicitor or conveyancer of its choosing (who, in turn, is free to accept or refuse instructions). Therefore, if lender and borrower cannot agree which solicitor or conveyancer should represent them jointly, they would usually proceed on a separate representation basis. The BSA have not published the equivalent of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 3s.

I have read a number of legal articles recently about firms being sued for non-compliance with Part 2 requirements . I am on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel can you tell me how Part 2 changes took place by RBS - Virgin One during 2013?

During 2013, 114 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by RBS - Virgin One. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel you are of course obliged to comply with individual lender requirements, as set out in Part II of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. Locktons have recently pointed out in an article that non-compliance with Part 2 requirements account for a number of high value claims, and it is therefore important to be aware of any particularly onerous terms that an individual lender may impose.

Remember: CML requirements are not guidelines; they are the lender client’s instructions.

In carrying out leasehold title investigations do RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel lawyers need to consider if there is an insolvent landlord?

Given that your practice in is on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and you are representing them in relation to a leasehold property, you must report to them if it becomes apparent that the landlord is either absent or insolvent. If RBS - Virgin One are to lend, they may require indemnity insurance. In any event,you will need to check RBS - Virgin One’s specific requirements. Notwithstanding whether RBS - Virgin One will lend in such circumstances you still need to advise the borrower (unless you are acting for RBS - Virgin One alone) as to the risks of buying a property with an insolvent or absentee landlord.

We had our RBS - Virgin One panel membership suspended but we have not yet been given an explanation yet. I am completing a CQS renewal form what details should I put forward?

In this situation please clarify on the form what action you have taken to discover the reasons behind cancellation of your RBS - Virgin One panel membership. 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 informing you as to why they reached this decision?

My firm is listed on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and due to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. I can not locate a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute. Who do I contact at RBS - Virgin One to get a duplicate Deed?

You should get in touch with RBS - Virgin One to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates an express section for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents. RBS - Virgin One in their Part 2’s state:

Don’t forget to disclose the firm’s RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel number.

Find a Lawyer on the RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel

Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of RBS - Virgin One

This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.

Year	Days*
2026	[no data]
2025	[no data]
2024	[no data]
2023	[no data]
2022	[no data]
2021	[no data]

* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor

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Please note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors