Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Cumberland Building Society’s changes. Notwithstanding that using the software is not a prerequisite for Cumberland Building Society , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Cumberland Building Society’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, safeguard your panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will enhance 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 Cumberland Building Society

Mortgage companies frequently change their requirements. The BSA instructions from Cumberland 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 2010, Cumberland Building Society has made 17 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the BSA Requirements.
That equates to a section change every 160.6 days. In total, 9% of the sections of the BSA Requirements for Cumberland Building Society have been changed since 26/1/2010.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

Book a Personalised Demo

Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
D.13 23/11/2018 BSA
Conveyancing Searches: Personal Searches and/or insurance
Cumberland Building Society panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept personal searches/insurance and, if yes, the Cumberland Building Society requirements
E.10 09/07/2018 BSA
Conveyancing : retenions by mortgage company
Cumberland Building Society clarification to panel lawyers clarification as to who they release retentions (or instalments of the advance) to
F.19 24/04/2018 BSA
Mortgage Discharge
Hoe does Cumberland Building Society discharge their interest : Advice to Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel lawyers
D.34 24/08/2016 BSA
Leasehold Conveyancing
Cumberland Building Society panel lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : minimum unexpired lease term
E.12 22/03/2016 BSA
Mortgage Advance Mechanics
Details as to how Cumberland Building Society pay the mortgage advance to conveyancing panel lawyers
E.12 21/03/2016 BSA
Mortgage Advance Mechanics
Details as to how Cumberland Building Society pay the mortgage advance to conveyancing panel lawyers

Last update 19/01/2019

Examples of recent questions relating to the Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find one who is on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. Is it advisable to appoint a new law firm?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
I am purchasing a newly constructed apartment and my conveyancer is advising me that she is duty bound to reveal incentives from the seller as her practice is on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange contracts and I dont want to prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Cumberland Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Cumberland Building Society). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I need to find a Cumberland Building Society panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
It is not clear why you need a Cumberland Building Society panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Cumberland Building Society to find out which solicitors in Cumberland Building Society are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. At a fee of one pound per month it is not expensive to register on the site
My lawyers in Birmingham have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society. Is it case that being on the Cumberland Building Society 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 Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Cumberland Building Society directly.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Cumberland Building Society. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel.
I currently have a mortgage with with Cumberland Building Society. Conveyancing was finalised months 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 Cumberland Building Society?
Your original mortgage agreement with Cumberland Building Society will provide that you need their approval before renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Cumberland Building Society’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent 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 Cumberland Building Society directly. You need not do this via a Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel lawyer.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having made sure that they are on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or Having digested plenty of house buying,I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Cumberland Building Society will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Cumberland Building Society will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.