Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property 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 stay fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Birmingham Midshires’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a condition for acceptance on the Birmingham Midshires panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Birmingham Midshires’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

The system creates 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 many firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Birmingham Midshires

Lenders frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Birmingham Midshires 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, Birmingham Midshires has made 311 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 8.8 days. In total, 45% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Birmingham Midshires have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
17.2.1a 15/03/2018 CML
Redemption Payments
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the discharge and repayment remittance in relation to Birmingham Midshires mortgages ?
6.7.1 07/03/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 10/07/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
10.7 28/04/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
In the event of a delayed completion, when and how is advance to be returned to Birmingham Midshires by the approved lawyer?
7.3 28/04/2017 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Birmingham Midshires panel conveyancer requirements for adult occupiers : Do Birmingham Midshires require a consent to mortgage from all occupants aged 17 or over
17.2.1a 18/04/2017 CML
Redemption Payments
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the discharge and repayment remittance in relation to Birmingham Midshires mortgages ?
6.6.3 18/04/2017 CML
Buy to Let Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires panel lawyers requirements concerning receiving counterpart/certified copy tenancy agreements
5.14.11 13/04/2017 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : acceptability of indemnity insurance where the terms of the lease are unsatisfactory
Defective Lease Indemnity Insurance
5.14.12 13/04/2017 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : requirement as to whether a clear ground rent/service charge receipt needs to be sent to them
6.7.1 21/11/2016 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Birmingham Midshires panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes

Last update 19/05/2019

FAQs for the Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

We are hoping to buy a 1 bedroom flat in Leeds with a mortgage from Birmingham Midshires. We have a lawyer but Birmingham Midshires says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Birmingham Midshires panel solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; Can we not simply insist that Birmingham Midshires use our lawyer?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Birmingham Midshires 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. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Birmingham Midshires
Our lawyer has discovered a problem with the lease for the flat we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Birmingham Midshires?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Birmingham Midshires are the client. A precondition to being on the Birmingham Midshires approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Birmingham Midshires). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Birmingham Midshires can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am purchasing a flat and need a conveyancing solicitor in Leeds who is on the Birmingham Midshires approved. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Birmingham Midshires . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
My solicitors in Newcastle have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Birmingham Midshires. Is it case that being on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements 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 Birmingham Midshires Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Birmingham Midshires directly.
I previously instructed online conveyancers based in Manchester who are on the Birmingham Midshires solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £175 for the legal aspects of the Birmingham Midshires mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Birmingham Midshires?
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 Birmingham Midshires but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Birmingham Midshires will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Birmingham Midshires. Conveyancing is new to me. 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 Birmingham Midshires you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel.
My offer was accepted on an apartment on the 7th January 2014, valuation was booked five days after, all came back fine. Property lawyer instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Birmingham Midshires and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel. Are Birmingham Midshires entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Birmingham Midshires to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Birmingham Midshires conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.