Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Accord Mortgages’s changes. Even though using the tool 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 an excellent support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your panel standing.

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

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Lenders frequently change 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, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Accord Mortgages has made 318 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 8.6 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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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.4.4 05/09/2017 CML
Disclosing Incentives
Accord Mortgages Ltd panel lawyers additional requirements concerning reporting incentives
10.2a 06/02/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
Do Accord Mortgages Ltd send the mortgage advance electronically or by cheque?
7.4 06/02/2017 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Contact details at Accord Mortgages Ltd for conveyancing panel conveyancers if doubts about accuracy of information concerning occupation of the property
14.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Does the Accord Mortgages Ltd need to be sent the original mortgage deed and/or any other original title documents by their approved lawyer ?
16.3.2 01/12/2014 CML
Transfer of Equity
Accord Mortgages Ltd details for requesting debt amount
16.5.3b 01/12/2014 CML
Deed of Rectification
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the deed of rectification in relation to Accord Mortgages Ltd mortgages ?
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
6.7.1 01/12/2014 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Accord Mortgages Ltd approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
16.1.1 12/09/2014 CML
Title Documents
Accord Mortgages Ltd details for requesting Title Documentation
6.4.5 14/01/2014 CML
Full monies through the firm's account
Contact details at Accord Mortgages Ltd for conveyancing panel lawyers were the law firm will not have control over the payment of all the purchase money.

Last update 04/11/2018

Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public

For what reasons would a law firm be removed from the Accord Mortgages solicitor panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of law firms had been excluded from a lender panel. The top reasons in order are :
  1. Low volume of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Accord Mortgages
I do hope you can help me. My lawyer is assuring me that he is legally obliged to apply for a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Accord Mortgages approved lawyer panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
You have limited options available to you. As you are taking a mortgage with Accord Mortgages your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Accord Mortgages’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Accord Mortgages. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to attend the offices of the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Leeds so that I can pop in to their offices when needed.
Whereas this was necessary 15 years ago, most lenders no longer require their conveyancing panel solicitor to witness the borrowers signature. You will still be obliged to provide ID Documents and there are still distinct advantages to using a local solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in Leeds .
My lawyers in Manchester have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Accord Mortgages. Is it case that being on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Accord Mortgages directly.
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 membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their panels.
Accord Mortgages have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Accord Mortgages or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Accord Mortgages will tell you what documents they want. Accord Mortgages will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Accord Mortgages will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
Me and my partner are buying a house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are preferred to beappointed. My colleagueadvised that we make sure that the conveyancing practitioner in Hendon is on the Accord Mortgages approved list of lawyers. Surely I don't need to do this, do I?
Far from all Hendon conveyancing practices are on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel. 8 people a month use our search tool to search for a Hendon conveyancing practitioner on the on the Accord Mortgages panel.