Clydesdale Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Clydesdale Bank’s changes. While utilising COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for Clydesdale Bank , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Clydesdale Bank’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Clydesdale Bank

Banks and building societies often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Clydesdale Bank 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, Clydesdale Bank has made 300 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 9.1 days. In total, 50% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Clydesdale Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Clydesdale Bank Solicitor Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public

Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my solicitor is not on the Clydesdale Bank Conveyancing panel that there is a problem with the standard of the firm’s conveyancing?
It would not be wise to jump to that conclusion. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 3 reasons are as follows: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Clydesdale Bank.
Can you help?. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Clydesdale Bank was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 6. My lawyer says that as she is on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are no longer valid.
A precondition to being on the Clydesdale Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Clydesdale Bank)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 Clydesdale Bank.
Do I have to visit the offices of the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel solicitor to execute the mortgage deed? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Manchester so that I can attend their offices if required.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for Clydesdale Bank undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.
My solicitors in Manchester have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Clydesdale Bank. Is it case that being on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender 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 Clydesdale Bank Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Clydesdale Bank directly.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the Clydesdale Bank panel is any good?
seeking recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always recommend that you speak with the lawyer carrying out your conveyancing
I am about to exchange contracts on a purchase with a mortgage from Clydesdale Bank. The report from my solicitor mentions that Clydesdale Bank could withdraw their offer before completion. Is this right?
Lenders such as Clydesdale Bank can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. If Clydesdale Bank withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are various possible reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • If the financial circumstances of the borrower have changed to the detriment and the Clydesdale Bank has been notified
  • A cashback to the buyer, or | part of the price includes a non-cash incentive to the buyer (eg paid stamp duty land tax),or | any indirect incentive (cash or non cash) or rental guarantee, of which the lender was previously unaware
  • Following advice from the property assessor on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion
  • Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
  • If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;
My offer was accepted on a house on the 17th March 2014, valuation was booked 4 days after, all came back fine. Property lawyer retained, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Clydesdale Bank and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel. Are Clydesdale Bank 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 Clydesdale Bank to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.