Family 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 professional indemnity insures. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Family Building Society’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for acceptance on the Family Building Society panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Family Building Society’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel standing.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces compliance and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Family Building Society

Lenders often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Family 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, Family Building Society has made 33 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 82.7 days. In total, 15% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Family Building Society have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.7.4 01/08/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Family Building Society approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : will the Family Building Society proceed if the property does not have the benefit of a new home warranty scheme
8.1 01/08/2017 CML
Circumstances Requiring Independent Legal Advice
Family Building Society approved conveyancer requirements re circumstances requiring independent legal advice : Do Family Building Society allow a firm to advise any of the specified third parties
12.3.1 21/03/2016 CML
Instalment Mortgages
Do Family Building Society have a specific contact point for their approved lawyer for release of retentions/mortgage advance instalments?
16.5.2 21/03/2016 CML
Deed of Variation
Contact details at Family Building Society for approved lawyers for confirming proposed deed of variation or agreement will not adversely affect Family Building Society
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.1c 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance total sum insured calculation
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
6.14.4 01/12/2014 CML
sending a copy of the buildings insurance policy and last premium
6.14.1 01/12/2014 CML
Building Insurance
Family Building Society panel lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance

Last update 17/11/2019

Family Building Society Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

I have just been informed by my IFA that my solicitor is not on the Family Building Society Conveyancing panel. How can I check?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the the approved Family Building Society solicitor panel.
Our solicitor has identified a defect with the lease for the flat we are buying. The seller’s lawyers have suggested title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer says that as he is on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Family Building Society?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Family Building Society are the client. A precondition to being on the Family Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Family Building Society). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Family Building Society 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.
Are there any apps to help search for a local solicitor on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 20 miles to meet the solicitor.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Family Building Society solicitor panel.
My grandmother passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the house. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £4500. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Family Building Society , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Family Building Society will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Family Building Society conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Family Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Family Building Society mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
My brother and I have agreed a price on a house I spoke to a conveyancer previously used by my dad and he advised retaining a property lawyers approved by Family Building Society. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Family Building Society if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Family Building Society 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 Family Building Society 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Family Building Society for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Family Building Society 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 Family Building Society conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Family Building Society’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.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a mortgage from Family Building Society. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I would like to complain about Family Building Society. How does one go about formally complaining?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Family Building Society branches or the Customer Care Team at Family Building Society head office. Ordinarily complaints to Family Building Society are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.
Family Building Society 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 Family Building Society or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Family Building Society will tell you what documents they want. Family Building Society 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. Family Building Society 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.