Britannia Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers such as AmTrust. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Britannia’s changes. While using the software is not a condition for acceptance on the Britannia panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Britannia’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your panel standing.

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

Find a Law Firm approved by Britannia

Mortgage companies 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, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Britannia has made 494 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 5.5 days. In total, 62% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Britannia have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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FAQs for the Britannia Solicitor Panel from members of the public

I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the Britannia panel of conveyancing solicitors. Is it practical to instruct different lawyers?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
My lawyer has discovered an inconsistency between the information in Britannia’s home valuation report and what is revealed within the legal papers for the property. My lawyer has advised that as he is on the Britannia conveyancing panel he is obliged to ensure that the bank is with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s approach right?
A precondition to being on the Britannia approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Britannia) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
Are the lawyers identified as being on the Britannia conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Britannia?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Britannia conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Britannia directly.
My conveyancers in Newcastle have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Britannia. Is it case that being on the Britannia conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
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 Britannia Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Britannia directly.
When it comes to lenders such as Britannia do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?
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.
Intending to buy a house with a mortgage with Britannia. I have received an online quote from a licensed conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Lender if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Britannia conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that they are on the Britannia conveyancing panel
I have instructed a lawyer having checked that they are on the Britannia conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or Having digested plenty of house buying,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Britannia conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Britannia will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Britannia will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Britannia you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.