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approved by Cumberland BS

Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Cumberland BS list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.

Find an Approved Solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Panel

FAQs for the Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Panel

For what reasons would a firm of solicitors be excluded from the Cumberland Building Society solicitor panel?
According to a recent survey report by the solicitors regulator three quarters of solicitor practices had been excluded from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
  1. Low volume of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Cumberland Building Society
My conveyancer has discovered a discrepancy when comparing the surveyor’s assumptions in Cumberland Building Society’s home valuation survey and what is in the legal papers for the property. My lawyer informs me that as he is on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel he is obliged to check that the bank is with this discrepancy and is content go ahead. Is my lawyer’s stance legitimate?
A precondition to being on the Cumberland Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Cumberland Building Society) 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.
Do all mortgage companies provide you with an approved list of solicitors? How do you know who is on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Cumberland Building Society directly.
I am buying a right to buy flat and getting a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel in your location.
Do the majority of lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel requirements are different to Cumberland Building Society’s conveyancing panel requirements.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Cumberland Building Society as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Cumberland Building Society would not normally instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Cumberland Building Society list
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Cumberland Building Society about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.

The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.

If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.