Astra Mortgages 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. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Astra Mortgages’s changes. While using this technology is not a condition for acceptance on the Astra Mortgages panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Astra Mortgages’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

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Banks and building societies frequently change their requirements. The BSA instructions from Astra 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 2010, Astra Mortgages has made 61 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the BSA Requirements.
That equates to a section change every 44.8 days. In total, 49% of the sections of the BSA Requirements for Astra Mortgages have been changed since 26/1/2010.

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FAQs : The ASTRA mortgages Solicitor Panel from members of the public

Much to my surprise I have been told by my mortgage broker that my the law firm I have appointed is not on the ASTRA mortgages Solicitor panel. What can I do to be certain that this is indeed the case?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for ASTRA mortgages.
Much to my surprise my conveyancer is asking me for proof of ID documents saying that this is part of his obligations as a conveyancer on the ASTRA mortgages Solicitor panel. This is news to me - can I refuse?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Terms and Conditions that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that ASTRA mortgages also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with ASTRA mortgages CML Handbook requirements last updated on ASTRA mortgages
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your search have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the ASTRA mortgages solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am considering applying for a ASTRA mortgages mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 70% loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for ASTRA mortgages?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on ASTRA mortgages conveyancing panel, but ASTRA mortgages would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same conveyancing matter.
When it comes to lenders such as ASTRA mortgages do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the ASTRA mortgages panel is any good?
seeking recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advise that you speak with the lawyer carrying out your conveyancing
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender ASTRA mortgages be concerned
As you are obtaining a mortgage with ASTRA mortgages your lawyer must to check the ASTRA mortgages conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for ASTRA mortgages . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to ASTRA mortgages where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. The CML are developing guidance for Northern Ireland and Scotland.