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Nationwide Building Society Conveyancing Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Is there a standard appeals process to prevent solicitors from being unfairly removed them from lender conveyancing panels?
There are thousands of firms across the UK who feel aggrieved claiming that they have been removed from lenders’ panels without an explanation or a good
reason. It is highly unlikely, given that lenders have distanced
themselves from creating a standardised appeals process for
brokers, that an appeals process will be introduced for
lawyers. Commenting on the call by brokers to have a standardised
process the CML said’ “While we understand that some lenders do have
an appeals process, it would not be appropriate for a trade body such
as the CML to seek to be prescriptive about such a process.” Some
lenders do of course set out an appeals policy. The Law Society does
have information on it’s site that may be of assistance. If you would
like to talk to one of our compliance experts about our Lender Panel
Protection Service please click
here.
Is it true that the Law Society has advised that firms check their status on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel?
The Scottish Law Society has suggested that solicitors should check their lender panel status before accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel. The suggestion arises from the practice of a number of mortgage lenders who remove solicitors from their panels without prior notice as part of their panel management system, which can lead to some solicitors discovering this only once instructed. This is sensible advice as a client finding out midway through a transaction that their lawyer is not on the approved lender panel is very frustrating and can lead to complaints. Many online consumer forums contain posts where someone is complaining about finding that their lawyer is not on a lender conveyancing panel. Such forums include moneysavingexpert.com
Am I obliged,
being on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel, to carry out a Lawyer Checker Search, an HS2 search?
Nationwide Building Society make no specific obligation to carry out any of
the searches listed. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook simply states that ‘you must
ensure that any other searches which may be appropriate to the
particular property, taking into account its locality and other
features are carried out’.
Remember that most ‘less usual searches’ (as described in the Law Society’s Conveyancing Handbook) are not optional as far as Nationwide Building Society are concerned if they are ‘appropriate’. Most lenders will not require environmental searches (you should Check Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook to be sure), but you are obliged to explain risks and availability to the borrower.
Ground stability, Plansearch,flood searches as well as the searches listed in the question are optional – but only to the extent that you have allowed the borrower client to make an informed choice. Regardless of whether there is a mortgage, If you have not advised the client that these (and other) searches are available and what risks they cover, then you will be liable if the client suffers loss through not conducting one. Does your ROT and Ts and Cs cover this?
A leading search provider lists over 70 property searches – do you know what all of them are and when they may be relevant? If you are unsure as to which searches are appropriate based on location call your search provider or call one of the leading search companies such as Searches UK.
I have read a number of legal articles recently about firms being sued for non-compliance with Part 2 requirements . I am on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel can you tell me how Part 2 changes took place by
Nationwide Building Society during 2013?
During 2013, 68 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by
Nationwide Building Society. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the
Nationwide Building Society 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.
I read the occasional LENDERmonitor notification but I seldom see significant changes. For instance, I am on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel and receive a notification simply telling me a change of address. Why is that of any relevance?
Yes it does matter because sending a communication or deeds to the wrong address can cause delays that might not only affect your borrower client but also impact your chances of staying on the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel. Lets say that Nationwide Building Society change their requirements as to where the post completion documents should be sent.
Do you change the details in your case management system? Is this recorded anywhere? Is this communicated to the staff? By virtue of your COT Nationwide Building Society you are giving assurances that you will send the relevant documents within 10 days of receiving the Title Information Document. Leaving to one side whether you are in breach of an undertaking in sending it to the wrong address, you run the risk of
Nationwide Building Society suspending you off the panel because they are not receiving the deeds in accordance with the COT. It will not be a valid excuse to say that you sent it to an address that is no longer valid.
Our membership of the
Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel was suspended but was reinstated on appeal, do I need to disclose this information on my CQS application?
It would be advisable to provide details of the date of removal, information on the reason for
removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This
should not adversely impact your firm’s application but gives the CQS team a complete picture of what has occured.
Our practice is on the
Nationwide Building Society
conveyancing panel and due to complete a purchase within the next week. I dont have a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute.
Who do I contact at Nationwide Building Society to request substitute deeds?
You need to contact Nationwide Building Society
to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook contains an express inquiry for lenders to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents.
Nationwide Building Society in their Part 2’s state:
Please remember to quote your Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel reference.
Find a Lawyer on the Nationwide Building Society Conveyancing Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Nationwide Building Society
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 35.9 |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | [no data] |
| 2021 | [no data] |
| 2020 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited Nationwide Building Society Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Nationwide Building Society borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Nationwide Building Society panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Nationwide Building Society lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Nationwide Building Society
- Consent-to-Let help for Nationwide Building Society
- Contractor Mortgages with Nationwide Building Society
