Find a Law Firm
approved by RBS - Virgin One
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the RBS - Virgin One list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
Find an Approved Solicitor on the The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One Conveyancing Panel
RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers
My lawyer is not on the RBS - Virgin One Solicitor Panel. Is it possible for me to retain my family solicitor even though they are excluded from the RBS - Virgin One list of approved lawyers?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a RBS - Virgin One mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by RBS - Virgin One. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
Can you clarify something for me?. My lawyer is not to blame but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from RBS - Virgin One was date stamped random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6. My lawyer has advised that as she is on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer valid.
One of the many conditions to being on the RBS - Virgin One approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS - Virgin One)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to RBS - Virgin One.
I note that you have a post code search directory listing firms on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee 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 RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
The lawyers that just started acting on my purchase in London has without warning shut down. They were on acting for me because I had to have a firm on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and my previous lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What are my options?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will 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 RBS - Virgin One 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 solicitors may be able to help
I had instructed online conveyancers based in London who are on the RBS - Virgin One solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £175 for dealing with the RBS - Virgin One mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by RBS - Virgin One?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by RBS - Virgin One but by your lawyers. Some firms on the RBS - Virgin One will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
Can I be sure that the solicitor on the RBS - Virgin One panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the solicitor conducting your conveyancing
My brother and I have had an offer accepted on a house I spoke to a solicitor previously used by my dad and he suggested instructing a law firm approved by RBS - Virgin One. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked RBS - Virgin One if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. RBS - Virgin One pointed out that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of RBS - Virgin One 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask RBS - Virgin One for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet RBS - Virgin One’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.