Coutts Finance Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software assists the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Coutts Finance’s changes. Even though using the software is not a condition for acceptance on the Coutts Finance panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Coutts Finance’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Coutts Finance

Lenders often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Coutts Finance 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, Coutts Finance has made 95 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 28.7 days. In total, 41% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Coutts Finance have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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FAQs : The Coutts & Co Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

On what basis would a law firm be removed from the Coutts & Co approved conveyancing panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of law firms had been excluded from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
  1. Low volume 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 Coutts & Co
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Coutts & Co will not agree to this. Why was Coutts & Co even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Coutts & Co of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Coutts & Co then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Coutts & Co.
I require the services of a Coutts & Co panel solicitor in Belfast. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Coutts & Co panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Coutts & Co to find out which solicitors in Coutts & Co are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is removed from the Coutts & Co Conveyancing panel prior to the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. 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.
Do the majority of banks operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel requirements are different to Coutts & Co’s conveyancing panel requirements.
Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Coutts & Co. Solicitors have been chosen? What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Coutts & Co?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Coutts & Co conducted the survey? Have you advised Coutts & Co as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued
The mortgage over my property is with Coutts & Co. Conveyancing has been completed some time ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Coutts & Co?
Coutts & Co must be informed of your intention prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Coutts & Co’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Coutts & Co will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Coutts & Co directly. You need not do this via a Coutts & Co conveyancing panel lawyer.