All solicitors on the Nationwide conveyancing panel will have to be accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), the lender confirmed today.

The Law Society welcomed the decision, which will take effect from this summer. 

Nationwide said: ‘We see CQS as best practice and a valuable indication of firms’ commitment to providing a quality service to their clients. This is why we have decided to introduce this requirement for our panel members later this year.’

Law Society vice-president Jonathan Smithers said: ‘CQS provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practice and has created a trusted community helping to deter fraud and drive up standards within the conveyancing marketplace.’

The Society will advise Nationwide panel members how to apply to join CQS in the coming weeks, he said.