Find a Law Firm
approved by Masthaven
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Masthaven list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the Masthaven Bank Conveyancing Panel
FAQs for the Masthaven Bank Solicitor Panel
I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Masthaven Bank panel of conveyancing solicitors. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
My lawyer has identified a difference between the assumptions in Masthaven Bank’s valuation survey and what is in the title deeds. My solicitor informs me that as he is on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel he is obliged to check that the bank is with this discrepancy and is content go ahead. Is my solicitor’s course or action legitimate?
A precondition to being on the Masthaven Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Masthaven Bank) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
I note that you have a search directory listing law firms on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
The lawyers that I appointed last week on my purchase in Brighton has without warning closed. I only went with them because I needed a firm on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What are my options?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist
I'm spending time viewing apartments and am about to put in an offer. Should I already have a conveyancer appointed at this stage? I will be getting a home loan with Masthaven Bank
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the EA. As you are getting a mortgage with Masthaven Bank , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a loan from Masthaven Bank. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Masthaven Bank. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Masthaven Bank branches or the Customer Care Team at Masthaven Bank head office. In most cases complaints to Masthaven Bank are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
I had an offer accepted on a property on the 17th March 2014, valuation was booked 3 days later, received a clean bill of health. Property lawyer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Masthaven Bank and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Masthaven Bank to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Masthaven Bank conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.