Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Accord Mortgages’s changes. Notwithstanding that using the tool is not a condition for being on the Accord Mortgages panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Accord Mortgages’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

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

Find a Law Firm approved by Accord Mortgages

Mortgage companies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Accord Mortgages 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 Mortgages has made 322 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 8.5 days. In total, 44% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Accord Mortgages have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Frequently asked questions relating to the Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Accord Mortgages panel of conveyancing solicitors. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
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 Mortgages will not agree to this. Why was Accord Mortgages even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Accord Mortgages of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Accord Mortgages then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Accord Mortgages.
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near Middlesbrough on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the Accord Mortgages approved panel?
We are not in the business of recommending one firm above another as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. We recommend that you speak to 3 or 4 lawyers listed before you make your choice..
My grandmother passed away six months ago and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a small mortgage remaining of approximately £8000. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Accord Mortgages , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Accord Mortgages will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Accord Mortgages mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel?
Some major banks and building societies now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation 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 remain on their approved list of firms.
Is it the case that all solicitors on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel regulated by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I had an offer accepted on a property on the 6th February 2014, valuation was booked 3 days after, received a clean bill of health. Property lawyer instructed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Accord Mortgages and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Accord Mortgages to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.