Atom 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 PI insurers such as AmTrust. It is a unique risk management tool.

This software is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Atom Bank’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a prerequisite for Atom Bank , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Atom Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your panel standing.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Atom Bank

Banks and building societies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Atom 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, Atom Bank has made 122 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 22.4 days. In total, 12% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Atom Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Common questions asked concerning the Atom Bank Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I am progressing with the sale of my flat and the estate agent has just telephoned to advise that the buyers are swapping law firm. The reason given is that Atom Bank will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a big named mortgage company only engage with specific law firms?
Lenders have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as HSBC, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 15 years.

Banks point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

Please help. My solicitor is assuring me that he is legally obliged to apply for a Local Authority search because the firm are on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with Atom Bank 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 Atom Bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Atom Bank. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I am looking for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be confident that all the law firms that are identified on your site are on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices listed on our site have advised us that they are on the Atom Bank panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Atom Bank panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel is not accurate.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Atom Bank conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
Can you point me to a directory of Atom Bank panel conveyancers on the CML Handbook Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
I am buying a property where the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Atom Bank be concerned
As your lender is Atom Bank your lawyer must to check the Atom Bank conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Atom Bank . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Atom Bank where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Atom Bank on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Atom 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 Atom Bank panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Atom Bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Atom 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 Atom Bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.