Conveyancing

Conveyancing panel criteria

We're happy to consider applications to join our panel, provided that the applying firm meets the requirements below.

These criteria exist to protect and ensure best legal service for Kent Reliance and its customers.

Criteria applicable to all mortgages

In order to act for Kent Reliance on a given mortgage, a firm must hold valid minimum professional indemnity insurance cover of at least £2m or the value of the loan advance being applied for, whichever is higher.

Additionally, the following criteria apply in terms of firm accreditation and structure, depending on the type of mortgage. To view your requirements, please see below.

Residential mortgages and buy to let individuals

• Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation plus
• A minimum of two SRA Approved Managers in the firm plus
• A minimum of two SRA Approved Managers in the office acting.

Or, if for a Council for Licenced Conveyancers (CLC) Firm:

• A minimum of three CLC Licenced Managers in the firm plus
• A minimum of two CLC Licenced Managers in the office acting.

Limited company/LLP buy to let mortgages:

Kent Reliance operate an approved panel of conveyancers for limited company/LLP buy to let mortgages. Only firms on our approved Limited company Buy to Let Conveyancer panel/LLP panel of conveyancers can act on limited company/LLP buy to let mortgages.

Shared ownership mortgages

Only solicitors that are registered on our closed shared ownership panel can act. A firm must have a demonstrable track record in acting on shared ownership lending in order to be considered.

Kent Reliance reserves the right to amend these criteria at any time at its sole discretion. Kent Reliance reserves the right to remove and/or refuse to register any firm on its conveyancing panel at its sole discretion. Kent Reliance’s decision shall be final and no negotiations shall be entered into.

Legal representation

Any limited company application would need to select a solicitor from our Limited company Buy to Let Conveyancer panel. Please view our panel here.

Alternatively, an applicant can use their own solicitor, provided they meet our criteria. However, we’ll instruct one of the solicitors from Limited company Buy to Let Conveyancer panel and the applicant will be liable for both sets of fees.

Joint representation (lender and customer)

In any case where the customer selects joint legal representation, their conveyancer must be selected from our approved panel of conveyancers who’ll act on behalf of us and the customer. The customer will incur the following fees which the customer will need to pay.

Sole representation (lender only)

Any cases that require separate legal representation for us will incur the same fees as set out in the table above less 10% in each case which the client will need to pay.

Additional fixed fees (as applicable):

• Directors Personal Guarantees - £50 (per guarantee)
• ILA for corporates - £175 (per Director)
• Electronic payments - £40
• Electronic check of Directors ID - £25
• Drafting Board Resolutions - £50
• Checking Tenancy Agreements - £50 (per AST)
• Drafting resolution to amend the articles and amending the articles where there is a sole director - £250
• Additional titles relating to the same property - £250
• New build property - £350
• Stamp duty online form (standard company BTL purchase only) - £75

Disbursements will be payable for relevant searches, Land Registry costs, Companies House costs, Stamp Duty Land Tax (where applicable) as well as postage and printing.

The above fees are only for the work requested to register our security on a standard limited company buy-to-let transaction (which is neither protracted or requires to be expedited) in accordance with the UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook, any special conditions contained in the mortgage offer and the Companies Act 2006 (as amended).

The list of additional fees is not an exhaustive list. If the borrower requires any additional work to be undertaken which is not included in the additional fees listed above, the fee(s) for those items must be separately negotiated with the selected firm.

Loan/purchase instructions that do not proceed to completion, will be charged in an amount commensurate to the work done as at the time the matter becomes abortive.

There may be some circumstances where joint representation may not be appropriate.

Register to be on our panel

We're happy to consider applications to join our panel, providing the firm meets our criteria for each of the following categories/panels:

• Residential mortgages and buy to let individuals (CQS accredited)
• Residential mortgages and buy to let individuals (CLC regulated)

Residential mortgages and buy to let individuals (CQS accredited)

In order to apply to join our panel, please send the below information to solicitorsonpanel@krbs.com.

1. A completed solicitor registration form
2. Conveyancing name and address
3. Copy of current professional indemnity insurance cover evidencing cover of at least £2m or the value of the loan advance being applied for - whichever is the higher
4. Full names of two SRA approved managers in the firm
5. Full names of two SRA approved managers in the office acting
6. CQS accreditation number.

Residential mortgages and buy to let individuals (CLC regulated)

In order to apply to join our panel, please send the below information to solicitorsonpanel@krbs.com.

1. A completed solicitor registration form
2. Conveyancing name and address
3. Copy of current professional indemnity insurance cover evidencing cover of at least £2m or the value of the loan advance being applied for, whichever is the higher
4. Full names of three CLC Licenced managers in the firm
5. Full names of two CLC Licenced managers in the office acting

Limited company/LLP buy to let mortgage

Please note we're not accepting any new applications to this panel at this time.

Shared ownership mortgages

Please note we're not accepting any new applications to this panel at this time.

Limited company solicitor panel

When submitting limited company mortgage applications, please ensure your client is using a solicitor from our approved panel.

Please note that it’s at our discretion to amend our panel from time to time.

Shared ownership solicitor panel

When submitting shared ownership mortgage applications, please ensure your client is using a solicitor from our approved panel.

Please note that it’s at our discretion to amend our panel from time to time.