Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. It is a unique risk management tool.

This software optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Ecology Building Society’s changes. While utilising this technology is not a condition for acceptance on the Ecology Building Society panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Ecology Building Society’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 compliance and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to a PII saving.

Book a Ecology Building Society Panel Compliance Demo

Banks and building societies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Ecology 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 2008, Ecology Building Society has made 174 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 15.7 days. In total, 42% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Ecology Building Society have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

Book a Personalised Demo

Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
3.1.4 01/12/2014 CML
details of the seller's solicitors or licensed conveyancers
3.1.6 01/12/2014 CML
verification of identity
5.20.1 01/12/2014 CML
Solar Panels
Ecology Building Society requirements for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers as to whether Ecology Building Society need to be notified where the lease does not meet the CML minimum requirements for leases of roof space for solar PV panels
16.5.2 01/12/2010 CML
Deed of Variation
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers for confirming proposed deed of variation or agreement will not adversely affect Ecology Building Society
4.5b 01/12/2010 CML
Certificates of Title
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers where COT should be sent
6.12.1 01/12/2010 CML
Pre-emption Rights, Options and Pre-emption Rights
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for approved lawyers to used where Ecology Building Society needs to be notified where property is affected by pre-emption rights, resale restrictions, options etc .
6.14.1c 01/12/2010 CML
buildings insurance total sum insured calculation
6.2.1 01/12/2010 CML
Property Description
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for approved lawyers to used where there are any discrepancies in property's description.
6.3.1 01/12/2010 CML
Purchase Price
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for approved lawyers to used where there are any issues relating to purchase price.
7.4 01/12/2010 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Contact details at Ecology Building Society for conveyancing panel conveyancers if doubts about accuracy of information concerning occupation of the property

Last update 17/11/2018

FAQs : The Ecology Building Society Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I have just been informed by my mortgage adviser that my property lawyer is not on the Ecology Building Society Conveyancing panel. How can I be sure that this is correct?
You need to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the conveyancing panel for Ecology Building Society.
I am buying a brand new flat and my lawyer is advising me that she has to reveal incentives from the developer as her firm is on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and I would rather not delay matters. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Ecology Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Ecology 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 have been Googling for competitive conveyancing fees. Can I be assured that all the law firms that are identified on your site are on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices listed on our site have assured us via an online form that they are on the Ecology Building Society panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Ecology Building Society panel. To date we have not been informed by either a mortgage company or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel is incorrect.
I am purchasing a garden flat and getting a mortgage with Ecology Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Ecology 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 Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel in your location.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel?
It is true that some banks and building societies now use CQS as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their panels.
I have paid off my mortgage with Ecology Building Society. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Ecology Building Society panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Ecology Building Society mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Ecology Building Society mortgage from the register. Ecology Building Society,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage: but are not moving to another property where the Ecology Building Society has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and the Ecology Building Society has instructed the Land Registry to do so The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Ecology Building Society mortgage has been paid off.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Ecology 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 use 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 Ecology Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Ecology Building Society conveyancing panel.