Santander list of approved conveyancers.

Sponge

My mortgage is with Santander. I was speaking to them yesterday (over the phone) with regard to some extra lending for a house move. We got onto the topic of Solictors/conveyancers and they told me I can only use ones from their approved list. I've already been recommended a local firm of Solicitors (by a Solicitor friend) and it would appear they are not on their list. Is it true that Santander can force me to use one off their list?

Richard_Webster

Two points:

1. Sometimes Santander get the names of the firms mixed up on their list and the firm is on the list, under a slightly different version of their name, or at a different address.

2. If they are definitely not on the list, then probably they don't do very much conveyancing and Santander has removed them for that reason. You might then wonder whether they are the best firm to use.

sonastin

Santander can't force you to use them for your conveyancing but they can insist that you use on of theirs for their conveyancing requirements. It is a condition of your mortgage that you pay for a solicitor to protect Santander's interests as well. It usually works out cheaper to get one solicitor to do both as they're generally doing the same work.

Sponge

I've just got off the phone with Santander after calling them to ask for a list of their preferred Solicitors. It now turns out that the people I wanted to use are in fact on their list. So it appears Richard's point #1 was on the nail. Thank you both for your replies.

I've spoken to Santander on the phone 3 times now and I'm not very happy with the information they've been giving me and how they've been providing it. So I've made an appointment to speak to an adviser face to face in a local branch.