DB UK Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software assists the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on DB UK Bank’s changes. While using the software is not a condition for being on the DB UK Bank panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with DB UK Bank’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA 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 DB UK Bank

Mortgage companies often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from DB UK 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, DB UK Bank has made 190 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 14.4 days. In total, 38% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for DB UK Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Frequently asked questions relating to the DB UK Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public

Is the fact that my solicitor is not identified on the DB UK Bank Solicitor panel that there is a problem with the standard of her conveyancing?
It would not be wise to jump to that conclusion. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 3 reasons are as follows: (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. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for DB UK Bank.
Our solicitor has identified a problem with the lease for the property we are buying. The seller’s lawyers have put forward defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or DB UK Bank?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and DB UK Bank are the client. A precondition to being on the DB UK Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on DB UK Bank). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that DB UK 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.
I need to find a DB UK Bank panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a DB UK Bank panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to DB UK Bank to find out which solicitors in DB UK Bank 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
What happens if my solicitor is suspended from the DB UK Bank Solicitor panel before completion?
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 at a cost.
Is the case that all CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel?
It is true that some banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their panels.
DB UK Bank have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up DB UK Bank or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. DB UK Bank will tell you what documents they want. DB UK Bank will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. DB UK Bank will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
We are are purchasing a terraced house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon need to beretained. My friendadvised that we double-check that the conveyancer in Hendon is on the DB UK Bank solicitors panel. Surely I don't need to do this, do I?
A limited percentage of Hendon conveyancing solicitors are on the DB UK Bank conveyancing panel. Use the above search tool to search for a Hendon conveyancing solicitor on the on the DB UK Bank panel.