Coutts Finance Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Coutts Finance’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for Coutts Finance , demonstrating you can stay 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 standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

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Banks and building societies frequently vary 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 94 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 29.0 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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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
3.1.3 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do Coutts require notification form their panel lawyer of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
5.20.4 24/07/2013 CML
Green Deal Plans
Coutts requirements for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers as to whether Coutts need to be advised as to details of any existing Green Deal Plan(s) on a property
5.14.9 14/01/2011 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Contact details at Coutts for conveyancing panel lawyers for matters relating to the lease.
5.1.1 14/01/2011 CML
Properties owned for less than 6 months
Contact details at Coutts for approved lawyers where there is a restriction on use.
5.7.1a 14/01/2011 CML
Flying Freeholds
Coutts panel lawyers clarification as to whether they lend on flying freeholds
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance
5.10.1 14/01/2011 CML
Properties owned for less than 6 months
Contact details at Coutts for approved lawyers where the seller has owned the property for less than 6 months:.
6.13.1 14/01/2011 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Improvement or Repair Grants
Contact details at Coutts for conveyancing panel lawyers to used where Coutts needs to be notified where property is affected by improvement/repair grant which will not be discharged.
3.2.3 13/01/2011 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Coutts requirements for notification of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
4.1 01/12/2010 CML
Mortage valuation
Do Coutts arrange for there to be a valuation report and if so, do they provide it to their conveyancing panel lawyers ?

Last update 16/11/2018

Coutts & Co Conveyancing Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public

It has come to my attention via my broker that my the law firm I have appointed is not on the Coutts & Co Conveyancing panel. How can I be sure that this is correct?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the conveyancing panel for Coutts & Co.
Expecting to move into my new home next Friday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for Coutts & Co. What risks do Coutts & Co expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Coutts & Co’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Coutts & Co). Being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these requirements.
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Coutts & Co approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Coutts & Co conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Coutts & Co solicitor panel.
I am considering applying for a Coutts & Co mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 60% loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Coutts & Co?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Coutts & Co conveyancing panel, but Coutts & Co would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
Is it the case that all solicitor firms on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel regulated by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Can I be sure that the solicitor on the Coutts & Co panel is any good?
Getting recommendations is a sensible 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 suggest that you speak with the solicitor carrying out your conveyancing
I have had an offer accepted on a apartment I spoke to a conveyancer previously used by my dad and he advised instructing a solicitor approved by Coutts & Co. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Coutts & Co if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Coutts & Co pointed out that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Coutts & Co 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Enquire of Coutts & Co for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Coutts & Co conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Coutts & Co conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Coutts & Co’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.