Accord Buy to Let Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers such as AmTrust. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on Accord Buy to Let’s changes. Even though utilising the tool 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 an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Accord Buy to Let

Lenders frequently 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, frequently:

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,

Book a Personalised Demo

Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
16.3.2 20/07/2015 CML
Transfer of Equity
Accord Buy to Let details for requesting debt amount
10.2a 01/12/2014 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
Do Accord Buy to Let send the mortgage advance electronically or by cheque?
16.3.7a 01/12/2014 CML
Transfer of Equity
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers for obtaining execution of transfer equity
4.1 01/12/2014 CML
Mortage valuation
Do Accord Buy to Let arrange for there to be a valuation report and if so, do they provide it to their conveyancing panel lawyers ?
5.17.5b 01/12/2014 CML
Power of Attorney
Accord Buy to Let requirements for conveyancing panel lawyers as to whether Accord Buy to Let need to be sent statutory declaration of non-revocation of power of attorney
5.5.3b 01/12/2014 CML
Planning Permissions
Accord Buy to Let approved lawyers clarification as to whether they need to send an original/copy of any planning permissions
Lack of Planning Permission Indemnity Insurance
5.7.1b 01/12/2014 CML
Freehold Flats
Accord Buy to Let panel lawyers clarification as to whether they lend on freehold flats
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance
5.8.1 01/12/2014 CML
Freehold and leasehold owner of multiple flats
Accord Buy to Let approved lawyers clarification as to whether they accept security which comprises a building converted into not more than four flats where the borrower occupies one of those flats and the borrower or another flat owner also owns the freehold of the building and the other flats are subject to long leases?
6.6.2 01/12/2014 CML
Buy to Let Conveyancing
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers when law firm does not have details of current letting or letting to take place at completion.
6.8.1 01/12/2014 CML
Roads and Sewers
Contact details at Accord Buy to Let for approved lawyers if no agreement and bond for an unadopted road or sewer
Adoption of Road or Sewer Indemnity Insurance

Last update 12/01/2019

Accord Buy to Let Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

I am getting a offer of a mortgage from Accord Buy to Let. I intend to enlist the help of a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the Accord Buy to Let Conveyancing panel exclude Licensed Conveyancers
Accord Buy to Let’s conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders associated to the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.
I am buying a new build apartment and my lawyer is telling me that she is duty bound to reveal incentives from the builder as her firm is on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel. I am on a tight deadline to exchange contracts and I dont want to prolong deal. is my lawyer taking the correct approach?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Accord Buy to Let approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Accord Buy to Let). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I note that you have a search directory identifying solicitors on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I retain them for my own conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I hope to get a mortgage with Accord Buy to Let. Is there anyway to cut out the solicitors to save on the costs? My dad reckons back in the day he did a lot of it himself, just went into the land registry office and providing them with the info they needed himself
If you are getting a mortgage with Accord Buy to Let involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Accord Buy to Let. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Accord Buy to Let. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Accord Buy to Let you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel.
Can I register a complaint to Accord Buy to Let about the lawyers being on the Accord Buy to Let conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Accord Buy to Let about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.

The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.

If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.