Answers for England and Wales

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Question: 1.14. May your firm act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller?

Lender Answer
Accord Buy to Let Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family
Accord Mortgages Ltd Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Adam & Company Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.

Adam & Company International Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.

Ahli United Bank (UK) plc No
Aldermore Bank PLC No.
Allied Irish Bank (GB), a trading name of AIB Group (UK) Refer to AIB Group (UK) plc, Central Securities (GB), 92 Anne Street, Belfast, BT1 3H
April Mortgages No
Atom Bank plc Yes, provided the firm is a partnership, a separate partner in the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and you are acting within your professional guidelines.
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd Yes.
Bank of China No.
Bank of Ireland (UK) plc Yes, provided that the separate fee earner dealing with the transaction for the lender is of no less standing within the firm and is not the seller or related to the seller. Otherwise, your firm may not act in these circumstances.
Bank of Ireland as Bank of Ireland Mortgages Yes, provided that the separate fee earner dealing with the transaction for the lender is of no less standing within the firm and is not the seller or related to the seller. Otherwise, your firm may not act in these circumstances.
Bank of Scotland Beginning A Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may only act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a separate partner of the firm acts for us.
Bank of Scotland Beginning O Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Bank of Scotland Private Banking  
Barclays Bank UK PLC The Bank does not allow a Firm to act in such circumstances.
Barnsley Building Soc, a trading name Yorkshire Building Soc Yes provided that:
i. There is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction;
ii. The firm is a partnership;
iii. The conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Birmingham Bank Please contact Head of Operations (Gareth Allen) to discuss
Birmingham Midshires Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Bluestone Mortgages No.
Bradford & Bingley Limited Your firm may only act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Britannia, a trading name of The Co-operative Bank plc No
Buckinghamshire Building Society No
Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
CHL Mortgages No
Clydesdale Bank plc Yes, in the circumstances stated in part 1 of the handbook.
Co-operative Bank plc No.
Coutts Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.
Coutts Finance Co Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.
Coventry Building Society Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
Cynergy Bank No.
Danske Bank Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
Darlington Building Society No
DB UK Bank Ltd Yes, as long as a separate fee earner of no less
standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Dudley Building Society No
Ecology Building Society No
Family Building Soc (a trading name of National Counties BS) No.
First Direct Yes, provided a separate partner to the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and you are acting within your professional guidelines
Fleet Mortgages No
Foundation Home Loans Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or separate partner of the firm acts for us , there is no conflict of interest and you are compliant with your professional rules and guidelines.
Furness Building Society No
GE Money Home Lending Ltd GE Money Home Lending has withdrawn from the UK mortgage market.
Generation Home No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for the seller.
Godiva Mortgages Ltd Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
Habito Yes, provided a separate partner to the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed
Halifax Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Halifax Loans Ltd Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Hampden & Co. plc Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.
Handelsbanken Yes, provided that the separate fee earner dealing with the transaction for the lender is of no less standing within the firm and is not the seller or related to the seller. Otherwise, your firm may not act in these circumstances.
Harpenden Building Society Yes, if dealt with by a separate partner
Hinckley and Rugby Building Society Please supply details of the relationship between the seller and the conveyancer acting, to Principal Office, Completions Team.
Hodge Hodge response:

Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Written confirmation must be sent and acknowledged (as detailed in 1.11) Law Society Guidelines and the SRA’s Outcomes - Focused Regulation is to be followed.

Hodge Equity Release Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Written confirmation must be sent and acknowledged (as detailed in 1.11) Law Society Guidelines and the SRA’s Outcomes - Focused Regulation is to be followed.
Holmesdale Building Society yes the firm may act but the person handling the matter should not be an interested party.
HSBC UK Bank plc Yes, provided a separate partner to the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and you are acting within your professional guidelines
Intelligent Finance Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Investec Bank plc Your firm may act if a separate partner within the firm acts for us in the circumstances specified in Part 1.
ITL Mortgages Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. No.
Kensington Mortgage Company Ltd No, the case must be passed to another solicitor at your firm (not under your supervision), or if none are available the instruction declined.
Kent Reliance (a trading name of OneSavings Bank plc) We do not agree that your firm can act in these situations
Keystone Property Finance No
Landbay Partners Limited Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner of the firm acts for us.
Landmark Mortgages Limited No. Your firm must not act in transactions in which the partner or fee earner dealing with the transaction or a member of their immediate family is the seller.
Leeds Building Society No.
Legal & General Home Finance Ltd No.
LendInvest Yes, provided that:
- there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
- the firm is a partnership
- the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family
LiveMore Capital No, the case must be passed to another solicitor at your firm (not under your supervision), or if none are available the instruction declined.
Lloyds Bank plc pre fixed 20/40 Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may only act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a separate partner in the firm acts for us.
Lloyds Bank plc pre fixed 50/30/77 No
Lloyds TSB Scotland plc No
M&S Bank Yes, provided a separate partner in the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and you are acting within your professional rules
Magellan Homeloans No
Manchester Building Society No.
Market Harborough Building Society Yes
Masthaven Bank No.
Metro Bank plc Yes providing a different partner is involved, there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction and the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
ModaMortgages No.
Molo Finance Yes, providing that you request our express authority in writing.
Monmouthshire Building Society Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Mortgage Agency Services No
Mortgage Express Your firm may only act if a separate fee earner or no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
Mortgage Express No 2  
MPowered Mortgages No
National Counties Building Society No.
National Westminster Bank plc No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
Nationwide Building Society Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
Nedbank Private Wealth Ltd Your firm may not in such circumstances without specific permission from us.
New Street Mortgages No, the case must be passed to another solicitor at your firm (not under your supervision), or if none are available the instruction declined
NRAM Ltd No. Your firm must not act in transactions in which the partner or fee earner dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller.
Paragon Buy to Let Mortgages No
Paragon Residential Owner-Occupied Mortgages No.
Paratus AMC Ltd Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or separate partner of the firm acts for us , there is no conflict of interest and you are compliant with your professional rules and guidelines.
Parity Trust No
Pepper Money No
Pepper Money (PUK) No
Perenna Yes, provided the firm is a partnership, a separate partner in the firm (who is not related to the seller) acts for us, there is no conflict of interest, and you are acting within your professional guidelines.
Platform (a trading name of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c.) No.
Precise Mortgages (Charter Court Financial Services Ltd) No.
Principality Building Society Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family.
Written confirmation must be sent and acknowledged (as detailed in 1.11) Law Society Guidelines and the SRA?s Outcomes - Focused Regulation is to be followed.
Reliance Bank Ltd No we would require another solicitor at the firm to handle the transaction
Rooftop Mortgages Ltd No
Saffron Building Society Yes, provided that:
There is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction; and
A separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us
Sainsbury's Bank We may allow your firm to act in these circumstances where a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner within the firm acts for us. Please contact us at the address detailed in 1.11a for confirmation.
Santander UK plc Yes, provided that a separate partner or fee earner (acting under the supervision of another partner)acts.
Scottish Building Society No
Scottish Widows Bank Yes, provided a separate partner within the firm acts on our behalf.
Secure Trust Bank PLC No.
Skipton Building Society Yes, provided the stipulations in 1.14 are strictly complied with
St James Place Bank Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
State Bank of India UK Not if the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller?s family. Your firm may only act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a separate partner of the firm acts for us.
Swansea Building Society No
The Mortgage Business No. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or a partner in the firm acts for us.
The Mortgage Lender Limited No
The Mortgage Works Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Direct Line Mortgages No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Direct Line One No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Natwest one Account No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc One Account No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One No, your firm may not act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller. However, your firm may act if a separate fee earner or separate partner within the firm acts for us.
The Tipton & Coseley Building Society No
Together Personal Finance Limited Not when the person dealing is the seller or a member of the seller’s immediate family. Your firm may act if a separate fee earner of no less standing or partner in the firm acts for us and no conflict of interest exists.
Topaz Finance Ltd Yes, providing a seperate fee earner of no less standing deals with the transaction.
TSB Bank plc No
Ulster Bank Yes, but you must inform as detailed above in clause 1.11a.
Vida Homeloans No
Virgin Money No and you must tell us immediately.
Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) No. Your firm must not act in transactions in which the partner or fee earner dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the seller.
Yorkshire Bank Home Loans Ltd Yes, in the circumstances stated in Part 1 of the handbook.
Yorkshire Building Society Yes, provided that:
* there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction
* the firm is a partnership
* the conveyancer acting is not the seller or a member of the seller's immediate family
Zephyr Homeloans Yes, providing a separate fee earner of no less standing deals with the transaction.