Accord Buy to Let Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Accord Buy to Let’s changes. Even though using the software is not a condition for being on the Accord Buy to Let panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Accord Buy to Let’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Accord Buy to Let

Banks and building societies often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Accord Buy to Let are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Accord Buy to Let has made 117 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 23.3 days. In total, 57% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Accord Buy to Let have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.14.1 30/11/2015 CML
Building Insurance
Accord Buy to Let panel lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
1.11b 01/12/2014 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers to where standard mortgage documentation is inappropriate
16.3.7b 01/12/2014 CML
Transfer of Equity
Accord Buy to Let guidance to approved lawyers for form of attestation clause for Transfer of Equity
16.5.3c 01/12/2014 CML
Deed of Easement
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers to send the deed of easement .
1.7 01/12/2014 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for conveyancing panel lawyers to if Accord Buy to Let will lend when borrower and mortgagor are not one and the same.
5.13.1 01/12/2014 CML
Balance of Monies
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for conveyancing panel lawyers where borrower is not providing balance of purchase price from funds/proposing to give second charge.
Insolvency Act Indemnity Insurance Deed of Gift Indemnity Insurance
5.14.15b 01/12/2014 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Accord Buy to Let approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : acceptability of indemnity insurance where the terms of the lease are unsatisfactory
Absentee Landlord Indemnity Insurance
5.9.1 01/12/2014 CML
Commonhold
Accord Buy to Let approved lawyers clarification as to whether they lend where the title is commonhold
6.13.1 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Improvement or Repair Grants
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers to used where Accord Buy to Let needs to be notified where property is affected by improvement/repair grant which will not be discharged.
6.2.1 01/12/2014 CML
Property Description
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers to used where there are any discrepancies in property's description.

Last update 13/03/2019

FAQs : The Accord Buy to Let Solicitor Panel from members of the public

What is the rationale as to why all property lawyers aren't included on the Accord Buy to Let Conveyancing panel?
Accord Buy to Let and other banks ordinarily imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing firms on their approved list of lawyers. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that Accord Buy to Let have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Accord Buy to Let Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, Conveyancing is not their speciality? To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime; probably not.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Accord Buy to Let will not agree to this. Why was Accord Buy to Let even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Accord Buy to Let of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Accord Buy to Let then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Accord Buy to Let.
Are the lawyers identified as being on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Accord Buy to Let?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Accord Buy to Let directly.
I am buying a terraced house and getting a mortgage with Accord Buy to Let. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Buy to Let 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 Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel in your location.
Is the case that all CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel?
It is true that some lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a loan from Accord Buy to Let. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about Accord Buy to Let. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Most banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Accord Buy to Let branches or the Customer Care Department at Accord Buy to Let head office. In most cases complaints to Accord Buy to Let are sorted out very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.
I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment. My mortgage broker suggested a solicitor I paid an upfront payment of 150. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Accord Buy to Let panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.