Clydesdale Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online 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 mitigation tool.

This software facilitates the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Clydesdale Bank’s changes. Even though using the software is not a prerequisite for Clydesdale Bank , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Clydesdale Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA 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 295 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 9.3 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.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

Book a Personalised Demo

Clydesdale Bank Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

On what basis would a law firm be excluded from the Clydesdale Bank approved conveyancing panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of solicitor practices had been removed from a lender panel. The top reasons in order are :
  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. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Clydesdale Bank
Our conveyancer has uncovered a problem with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing. The other side have offered title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer says that as he is on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Clydesdale Bank?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Clydesdale Bank are the client. A precondition to being on the Clydesdale Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Clydesdale Bank). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Clydesdale Bank 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.
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your search have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
Please explain the implications if my solicitor is expelled from the Clydesdale Bank Conveyancing panel before the completion date?
First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit for a fee.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Clydesdale Bank do lawyers 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.
I am buying a property where the roof has a solar panel. Clydesdale Bank 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 Clydesdale Bank your lawyer must to check the Clydesdale Bank conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Clydesdale Bank . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Clydesdale Bank 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.
Completion of my purchase has taken place with a loan from Clydesdale Bank. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Clydesdale Bank. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Almost all banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Clydesdale Bank branches or the Customer Services Team at Clydesdale Bank head office. In most cases complaints to Clydesdale Bank are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR with full details of your complaint.