Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Accord Mortgages’s changes. Even though utilising the software is not a condition for being on the Accord Mortgages panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Accord Mortgages’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates 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

Banks and building societies frequently 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 321 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,

Book a Personalised Demo

Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
5.19.1 20/09/2018 CML
Shared Ownership and Shared Equity
Contact details at Accord Mortgages Ltd for approved lawyers for lending on affordable housing, shared equity and shared ownership and where relevant Accord Mortgages Ltd requirements.
6.4.4 17/09/2018 CML
Disclosing Incentives
Accord Mortgages Ltd panel lawyers additional requirements concerning reporting incentives
6.7.1 17/09/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Accord Mortgages Ltd panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
4.3 06/02/2017 CML
Mortage valuation
Contact details at Accord Mortgages Ltd for approved lawyers where assumptions stated by the valuer are incorrect
5.5.1b 01/12/2014 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.1c 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance total sum insured calculation
6.7.1 01/12/2014 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Accord Mortgages Ltd panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
1.11b 12/09/2014 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at Accord Mortgages Ltd for approved lawyers to where standard mortgage documentation is inappropriate
5.8.1 14/01/2014 CML
Freehold and leasehold owner of multiple flats
Accord Mortgages Ltd panel 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?

Last update 14/11/2019

Examples of recent questions relating to the Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

My husband and I are buying a 3 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Accord Mortgages. We like our lawyer but Accord Mortgages says he's not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct one of the Accord Mortgages panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Accord Mortgages
Expecting to move into my new home next Thursday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as as he informs me that he is duty bound to validate that it is in order for Accord Mortgages. What risks do Accord Mortgages expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Accord Mortgages’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Accord Mortgages). Being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these requirements.
I see that you have a post code search directory listing firms on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
We're in Birmingham, First timers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Accord Mortgages , but our solicitor is on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from Accord Mortgages as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Accord Mortgages do not ordinarily appoint a member of their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Accord Mortgages panel
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Accord Mortgages. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use 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 Mortgages you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel.
The mortgage over my property is with Accord Mortgages. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Accord Mortgages?
You must advise Accord Mortgages before renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Accord Mortgages’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Accord Mortgages will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Accord Mortgages directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel solicitor.