Chelsea Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Chelsea Building Society’s changes. While using this technology is not a condition for being on the Chelsea Building Society panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Chelsea Building Society’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Chelsea Building Society

Banks and building societies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Chelsea Building Society 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, Chelsea Building Society has made 370 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 7.4 days. In total, 32% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Chelsea Building Society have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
10.3 17/09/2018 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
What are the standard deductions made by Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) from the mortgage advance?
14.2.1 17/09/2018 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Where should approved lawyersfor Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) send the title deeds and documents following completion?
5.14.1 05/09/2017 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) panel lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : minimum unexpired lease term
6.7.1 02/05/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
17.2.1b 06/02/2017 CML
Evidence of Discharge of Mortgage
Do Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) send the discharge via a DS 1 form or direct with the Land Registry?
3.1.4 01/12/2014 CML
details of the seller's solicitors or licensed conveyancers
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
6.14.4 01/12/2014 CML
sending a copy of the buildings insurance policy and last premium
6.5.1 01/12/2014 CML
Vacant Possession on Completion
Contact details at Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) for approved lawyers were vacant possession is not being given.
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)

Last update 14/11/2019

Common questions asked concerning the Chelsea Building Society Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Chelsea Building Society fees if I use my own solicitor. How good are the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH provided that they are good and reasonably priced. Would you recommend a specific law firm on the Chelsea Building Society panel?
Chelsea Building Society’s conveyancing panel is substantial so your best bet is just to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Chelsea Building Society will allow to act for them.
Can you clarify something for me?. My lawyer is not to blame but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Chelsea Building Society was date stamped random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are no longer valid.
A precondition to being on the Chelsea Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Chelsea Building Society)which states that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Chelsea Building Society.
How up to date is your database of lawyers on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel? Do Chelsea Building Society send you an updated list?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Chelsea Building Society directly.
I am attempting to get my ex-husband removed the mortgage deeds. Can Chelsea Building Society really insist on which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but Chelsea Building Society then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Chelsea Building Society solicitors panel
Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Chelsea Building Society. Solicitors have been chosen? How long does it take for Chelsea Building Society to send the offer to our conveyancer
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Chelsea Building Society conducted the valuation? Have you advised Chelsea Building Society as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued
Can I register a complaint to Chelsea Building Society about the lawyers being on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Chelsea Building Society about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.

The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.

If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.

It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called Chelsea Building Society on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Chelsea Building Society 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
Your lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for Chelsea Building Society. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Chelsea Building Society 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 Chelsea Building Society to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.