Barclays plc Conveyancing Panel Information

We only know of a couple of lenders that operate a distinct approved solicitors panel where the mortgage advance is over a certain threshold. You should nevertheless check directly with Barclays plc. 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 Barclays plc

One might ordinarily expect Barclays plc via their Part 2 conditions to address this but the Handbook is silent on time frames. Do look at the Terms of Barclays plc’s Conveyancing Panel Appointment that you entered into. For many lender's these Terms have a provision along the following lines: ‘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’ It is imperative to keep Barclays plc informed. Law firms can often compound their problems by not communicating with the lender when there is a delay or problem.

For most lenders participation on the lender's panel of conveyancers is at the absolute discretion of the the lender. Many lenders reserve the right to accept or reject any application without giving any reason. You should check your original application to join the Barclays plc conveyancing panel to see if you are entitled to a reason.

You have a number of obligations in this regard which are to followed if you wish to comply with your lender client’s instructions as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. (a) You must take reasonable steps to verify that there are no discrepancies between the description of the property as valued and the title and other documents which a reasonably competent conveyancer should obtain, and, if there are, you must tell Barclays plc immediately. (b) You should take reasonable steps to verify that the assumptions stated by the valuer about the title (for example, its tenure, easements, boundaries and restrictions on its use) in the valuation and as stated in Barclays plc’s mortgage offer are correct. If they are not, please let Barclays plc know as soon as possible as it will be necessary for Barclays plc to check with the valuer whether the valuation needs to be revised. Barclays plc conveyancing panel solicitors are not expected to assume the role of valuer. Barclays plc are simply trying to ensure that the valuer has valued the property based on correct information. (III) Barclays plc recommend that you should advise the borrower that there may be defects in the property which are not revealed by the inspection carried out by their valuer and there may be omissions or inaccuracies in the report which do not matter to them as a lender but which would matter to the borrower. Barclays plc recommend that, if we send a copy of a valuation report that Barclays plc have obtained, you should also advise the borrower that the borrower should not rely on the report in deciding whether to proceed with the purchase and that he obtains his own more detailed report on the condition and value of the property, based on a fuller inspection such as a homebuyers survey or comprehensive survey. If you do not receive a copy of the valuation you can always ask for a copy of one from Barclays plc or the borrower. You still need to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Requirement relating to valuation reports even if you don't receive one directly. Failure to comply not only runs the risk of facing a claim by the lender but also being removed from the Barclays plc conveyancing panel

The Law Society’s 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 panels. A number of Lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel acceptance such as Astra Mortgages.

You would be advised to contact Barclays plc to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook incorporates an explicit inquiry for banks to cite who to contact to obtain standard documents. Barclays plc in their Part 2’s state: It is likely that you will need to quote the firm’s Barclays plc solicitors panel number.