Britannia Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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 system optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on Britannia’s changes. While using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for being on the Britannia panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Britannia’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

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Lenders often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Britannia 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, Britannia has made 487 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 5.6 days. In total, 62% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Britannia have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.7.1 26/07/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Britannia approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.14.1 02/02/2015 CML
Building Insurance
Britannia panel lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
3.1.6 01/12/2014 CML
verification of identity
5.5.1b 01/12/2014 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
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
6.14.1 01/12/2014 CML
Building Insurance
Britannia approved lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
17.2.1b 12/07/2013 CML
Evidence of Discharge of Mortgage
Do Britannia send the discharge via a DS 1 form or direct with the Land Registry?

Last update 10/01/2019

FAQs for the Britannia Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Britannia fees if I use my own solicitor. How good are the Britannia conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH provided that they are good and reasonably priced. Are there any Britannia conveyancers you'd recommend?
Britannia’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from whether they are on it. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Britannia will allow to act for them.
Can you clarify something for me?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Britannia was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6. My lawyer has advised that as she is on the Britannia conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer acceptable to the lender.
A precondition to being on the Britannia approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Britannia)which states that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Britannia.
What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the Britannia conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 kilometers to meet the lawyer.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel search on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Britannia solicitor panel.
I was due to move into my first house yesterday. My solicitor is on the Britannia solicitors panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not advised Britannia of their new address. Britannia has locked down the release of mortgage funds until such time as their systems are up to date with the correct details.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Britannia branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Britannia have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As your lender is Britannia your lawyer must to check the Britannia conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Britannia . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Britannia 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 have paid off my mortgage with Britannia. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Britannia panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Britannia mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Britannia mortgage from the register. Britannia,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage: but are not moving to another property where the Britannia has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and the Britannia has instructed the Land Registry to do so The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Britannia mortgage has been paid off.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Britannia. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. 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 Britannia you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Britannia conveyancing panel.