Birmingham Bank Conveyancing Panel Information

This not something that the CML would traditionally get involved with but they do arrange numerous useful legal related conferences which are attended by firms on the Birmingham Bank conveyancing panel. We do intend to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on Birmingham Bank’s Part 2 requirements. Law firms on the Birmingham Bank conveyancing panel will be invited. Further details will be communicated as part of the LENDERmonitor P2 change Notifications.

We are not aware of any intention on the part of the CML to develop such a tool.

The Council of Mortgage Lender requirements of Birmingham Bank are silent on this. Most lenders address the question of file retention via their Terms of panel appointment where they generally provide that for evidential purposes, the firm must keep the file for a minimum six years from the date of the mortgage. Data imagining is normally suitable compliance with this requirement. Many lenders point out in that it is the practice of some fraudsters to demand the conveyancing file on completion in order to destroy evidence that may later be used against them. It is therefore important to retain these documents to protect Birmingham Bank’s interest. To be absolutely sure of Birmingham Bank requirements in this regard please check the Terms and Conditions of Birmingham Bank’s conveyancing panel membership.

When a solicitor is acting for both Birmingham Bank and borrower there is potential for conflicts to arise. You owe duties to both clients. All information received by you from your client is confidential and cannot be disclosed without the client’s consent. In the situation you find yourself in if the purchaser will not consent to the information being passed on to the lender the solicitor must cease to act for the Birmingham Bank and it may well be prudent you to cease to act for the purchaser as well. You can not tell the Birmingham Bank the reason for termination of the retainer over and above the fact that a conflict has arisen. The fact that you can no longer act should alert even the most somnambulistic of lenders that something is wrong with the borrower and/or purchase. The fact that you have disinstructed yourself should not affect your Birmingham Bank conveyancing panel status.

CQS membership gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a prerequisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of firms. Some Lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel acceptance such as Santander.

You should get in touch with Birmingham Bank to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook contains an express section for banks to cite who to contact to obtain standard documents. Birmingham Bank in their Part 2’s state: It helps to quote your Birmingham Bank conveyancing panel reference.