RBS- First Active Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on RBS- First Active’s changes. Even though using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for RBS- First Active , demonstrating you can remain up to date with RBS- First Active’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your panel status.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will increase 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

Banks and building societies often 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 177 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 15.4 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.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
14.2.1 28/12/2017 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Where should conveyancing panelfor The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active send the title deeds and documents following completion?
16.1.1 28/12/2017 CML
Title Documents
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active details for requesting Title Documentation
17.1.1 28/12/2017 CML
Redemption Statements
Contact details at The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active for approved lawyers to request redemption statements .
5.7.1b 02/12/2016 CML
Freehold Flats
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active approved lawyers clarification as to whether they lend on freehold flats
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance
5.19.1 19/07/2016 CML
Shared Ownership and Shared Equity
Contact details at The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active for approved lawyers for lending on affordable housing, shared equity and shared ownership and where relevant The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active requirements.
3.1.6 01/12/2014 CML
verification of identity
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
6.14.2 01/12/2014 CML
requirement that all insurance risks are included
6.7.1 16/09/2014 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes

Last update 08/07/2019

Common questions asked concerning the RBS- First Active Solicitor Panel from members of the public

My financial adviser has informed me that I have to pay RBS- First Active fees should I instruct my family lawyer. How good are the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitors? I dont care which law firm I use as long as they're good and not exorbitantly priced. Are there any RBS- First Active conveyancers you'd recommend?
RBS- First Active’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that RBS- First Active will allow to act for them.
My fiance and I are refinancing our penthouse with RBS- First Active. We have a son approaching twenty who lives with us. The solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel has asked us to disclose any adults other than ourselves who reside at the property. Our lawyer has now e-mailed a document for our son to sign, waiving any legal rights in the event that the apartment is repossessed. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this form unique to the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we remortgaged 4 years ago (2) Does our son by signing this giving up his rights to inherit the property?
First, rest assured that your RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitor is doing the right thing as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to RBS- First Active .This is solely used to protect the RBS- First Active if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave.

It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of RBS- First Active had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.

Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to visit the offices of the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Leeds so that I can pop in to their offices when needed.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for RBS- First Active undertake all of the work via the post, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake your Conveyancing Transaction no matter where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you can still book an appointment to go into appointed conveyancing lawyer if you prefer.
My aunt passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor was left the house. The house had a relatively small loan remaining of approximately £8000. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to RBS- First Active , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then RBS- First Active will insist on your using a conveyancer on the RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
My husband and I are in the throws of viewing houses and am about to put in an offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I will be getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active
It would be sensible to have your start your search soon rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the EA. As you are getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
I have a mortgage with RBS- First Active. Conveyancing was finalised a year ago. Should I wish to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform RBS- First Active?
You must advise RBS- First Active prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of RBS- First Active’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact RBS- First Active directly. You need not do this via a RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitor.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a loan from RBS- First Active. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about RBS- First Active. How do I make a complaint?
Most banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the RBS- First Active branches or the Customer Care Department at RBS- First Active head office. We understand that complaints to RBS- First Active are sorted out very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.