RBS- First Active Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers such as AmTrust. 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 alerts on RBS- First Active’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising this technology is not a condition for being on the RBS- First Active panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with RBS- First Active’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by RBS- First Active

Lenders frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from RBS- First Active 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 2008, RBS- First Active has made 179 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 15.3 days. In total, 49% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS- First Active have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
16.3.1 31/05/2016 CML
Transfer of Equity
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active clarification as to whether they have a standard form of Transfer of Equity/Deed of Covenant?
6.7.1 12/02/2016 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 17/11/2015 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 25/09/2015 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 25/08/2015 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
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
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active approved lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance

Last update 05/11/2019

FAQs for the RBS- First Active Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I need to swap lawyers as my lawyer is not on the RBS- First Active panel of conveyancing solicitors. How easy is it to change conveyancer?
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 do hope you can help me. My lawyer is informing me me that he is legally obliged to apply for a Local Authority search because the firm are on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated RBS- First Active. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I have been looking for competitive conveyancing fees. Can I be confident that all the firms that are listed on your website are on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel?
The law firms listed on our site have advised us that they are on the RBS- First Active panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the RBS- First Active panel. To date we have not been informed by either a lender or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel is incorrect.
I was scheduled to move into my flat last Friday. My lawyer’s firm is on the RBS- First Active solicitors panel but has moved offices 8 weeks ago and had not advised RBS- First Active of their new address. RBS- First Active is now refusing to release my funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local RBS- First Active branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
Are all solicitor practices on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I previously instructed online conveyancers based in Bristol who are on the RBS- First Active solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £175 for dealing with the RBS- First Active mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by RBS- First Active?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by RBS- First Active but by your lawyers. Some firms on the RBS- First Active will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. RBS- First Active will tell you what documents they want. RBS- First Active 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. RBS- First Active 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.