National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Panel Information

The CML do not retain duplicates of the Part 2's pre-December 2010. We would advise that you make a request of National Westminster Bank directly.

In order to be on the National Westminster Bank 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 National Westminster Bank) 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• To carry out our instructions with reasonable care and skill, ensuring that all employees carrying out mortgage work on our behalf are qualified and competent to do so
• 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

During 2013, 167 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by National Westminster Bank. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the National Westminster Bank 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.

There are various requirements you need to follow if you wish to comply with your lender client’s instructions as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. First, 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 National Westminster Bank 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 National Westminster Bank’s mortgage offer are correct. If they are not, please let National Westminster Bank know as soon as possible as it will be necessary for National Westminster Bank to check with the valuer whether the valuation needs to be revised. National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel solicitors are not expected to assume the role of valuer. National Westminster Bank are simply trying to ensure that the valuer has valued the property based on correct information. Thirdly, National Westminster Bank 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. National Westminster Bank recommend that, if we send a copy of a valuation report that National Westminster Bank 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 National Westminster Bank 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 National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel

The Law Society’s CQS accreditation is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a prerequisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors. Some Lenders now use the scheme as the starting point for Panel acceptance as is the case with HSBC.

You would be advised to get in touch with National Westminster Bank to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook has an express section for banks to cite who to contact to obtain standard documents. National Westminster Bank in their Part 2’s state: Don’t forget to disclose the firm’s National Westminster Bank solicitors panel number.