Cumberland Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s 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 management tool.

This software optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Cumberland Building Society’s changes. Even though utilising the tool is not a condition for acceptance on the Cumberland Building Society panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Cumberland Building Society’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces compliance and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Cumberland Building Society

Lenders often 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, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2010, Cumberland Building Society has made 78 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the BSA Requirements.
That equates to a section change every 35.0 days. In total, 34% of the sections of the BSA Requirements for Cumberland Building Society have been changed since 26/1/2010.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
A.10 05/03/2019 BSA
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at Cumberland Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers to obtain mortgage documentation
B.13 05/03/2019 BSA
ID Documentation
Cumberland Building Society approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
B.22 05/03/2019 BSA
Occupiers at the Property
Cumberland Building Society approved conveyancer requirements for adult occupiers : Do Cumberland Building Society require a consent to mortgage from all occupants aged 17 or over
C.19 05/03/2019 BSA
Roads and Sewers
Cumberland Building Society requirements for approved lawyers for unadopted roads or sewers
D.34 05/03/2019 BSA
Leasehold Conveyancing
Cumberland Building Society approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : minimum unexpired lease term
E.10 05/03/2019 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
C.12 05/03/2019 BSA
New Build Conveyancing
Cumberland Building Society approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
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 approved lawyers clarification as to who they release retentions (or instalments of the advance) to
E.12 22/03/2016 BSA
Mortgage Advance Mechanics
Details as to how Cumberland Building Society pay the mortgage advance to conveyancing panel lawyers

Last update 17/08/2019

Common questions asked concerning the Cumberland Building Society Solicitor Panel from members of the public

I am getting a mortgage offer from Cumberland Building Society. I would like to use a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the Cumberland Building Society Solicitor panel exclude conveyancers regulated by the CLC
Cumberland Building Society’s conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders associated to the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
can you help? My solicitor is assuring me that she is duty-bound to apply for a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. Is this really necessary?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with Cumberland Building Society your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Cumberland Building Society’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Cumberland Building Society. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Do all the firms listed on your search have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Cumberland Building Society solicitor 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.
I am buying a semi-detached house and getting a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel in your location.
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I plan to obtain a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society. Is it possible to avoid using solicitors to save on the costs? My father said that years ago it was possible to take the documents into the local Land Registry office and they did the rest
If you are getting a mortgage with Cumberland Building Society involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Cumberland Building Society. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Cumberland Building Society. Conveyancing is new to me. 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.
My brother and I are buying a terraced house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon need to beappointed. My mothersuggested that we check that the conveyancing practitioner in Hendon is on the Cumberland Building Society approved list of lawyers. Is this really necessary?
It is not that case that all Hendon conveyancing solicitors are on the Cumberland Building Society conveyancing panel. 8 people a month use our search tool to locate a Hendon conveyancing lawyer on the on the Cumberland Building Society panel.