Ahli United Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Ahli United Bank’s changes. Notwithstanding that using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for Ahli United Bank , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Ahli United Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces compliance and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Ahli United Bank

Banks and building societies often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Ahli United Bank 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, Ahli United Bank has made 19 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 143.7 days. In total, 9% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Ahli United Bank 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
3.1.6 01/12/2014 CML
verification of identity
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
5.5.1b 01/12/2014 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
6.14.1c 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance total sum insured calculation
6.14.2 01/12/2014 CML
requirement that all insurance risks are included
6.14.4 01/12/2014 CML
sending a copy of the buildings insurance policy and last premium
3.1.3 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do Ahli United Bank (UK) plc require notification form their approved lawyer of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Ahli United Bank (UK) plc approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
17.2.1b 12/07/2013 CML
Evidence of Discharge of Mortgage
Do Ahli United Bank (UK) plc send the discharge via a DS 1 form or direct with the Land Registry?

Last update 13/05/2019

Frequently asked questions relating to the Ahli United Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public

Can you please explain the reason why all solicitors are not on the Ahli United Bank Conveyancing panel?
Pre- 2008 most lenders had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 conducted a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors that you are dealing with. Consequently, lenders have regularly sought more information from law firms about their operations and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of transactions. Many firms that have been excluded from lender panels have 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Such firms were never going to meet the criteria of volume of transactions the lenders required.
Our conveyancer has identified a problem with the lease for the flat we are buying. The other side have put forward title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor says that as he is on the Ahli United Bank conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or Ahli United Bank?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from Ahli United Bank does not mean to say that the property will be meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the CML Handbook Requirements. You and Ahli United Bank are the client. The appropriate lender requirements have to be complied with by the Ahli United Bank conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and Ahli United Bank
I am planning to acquire a flat and need a conveyancing solicitor in Birmingham who is on the Ahli United Bank approved. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Ahli United Bank . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
My lawyers in Manchester have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Ahli United Bank. Is it case that being on the Ahli United Bank conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
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 Ahli United Bank Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Ahli United Bank directly.
I previously instructed online conveyancers based in Cardiff who are on the Ahli United Bank solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Ahli United Bank mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Ahli United Bank?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Ahli United Bank but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Ahli United Bank will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
Can I register a complaint to Ahli United Bank about the lawyers being on the Ahli United Bank conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Ahli United Bank. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get 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.

It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Ahli United Bank on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Ahli United Bank conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
As long as the conveyancer is on the Ahli United Bank panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Ahli United Bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Ahli United Bank will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Ahli United Bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.