RBS- First Active Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This software is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on RBS- First Active’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for being on the RBS- First Active panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with RBS- First Active’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory 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

Mortgage companies frequently vary 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 182 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 15.0 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,

Book a Personalised Demo

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

I instructed a solicitor to carry out on my remortgage 4 weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with RBS- First Active. The solicitors assured me that they are on RBS- First Active conveyancing panel and advised me their panel reference. RBS- First Active then ,via my broker advised that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What do I do from here? Should I appoint a new solicitor listed on the conveyancing panel for RBS- First Active?
You may be very frustrated with the lawyer but if it only go take a few more days they it may be worth waiting as, depending on how far progressed you are you may end up delaying the transaction by a number of weeks if you need to replace your solicitor You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the RBS- First Active as to how long they think it will take to get the firm to get back on the panel.
My solicitor has spotted an inconsistency when comparing the assumptions in RBS- First Active’s valuation report and what is in the title deeds. My lawyer says that as he is on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel he needs to ensure that the lender is happy with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s course or action correct?
A precondition to being on the RBS- First Active approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS- First Active) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. 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 am buying a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in Manchester who is on the RBS- First Active approved. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for RBS- First Active . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is suspended from the RBS- First Active Solicitor panel before the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
The first thing to point out is that, this is very unlikely to happen. 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 for a fee.
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from RBS- First Active as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
RBS- First Active do not ordinarily appoint a member of their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the RBS- First Active panel
Hi, thinking about buying a house off my mate. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I plan to obtain a mortgage with RBS- First Active. Is there anyway to cut out the solicitors to save us both money? My dad reckons back in the day he did a lot of it himself, just went into the land registry office and providing them with the info they needed himself
If you are getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to RBS- First Active. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel.
We have had an offer accepted on a flat I spoke to a lawyer recommended by my dad and he suggested retaining a solicitor approved by RBS- First Active. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked RBS- First Active if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. RBS- First Active pointed out that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of RBS- First Active 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask RBS- First Active to suggest a law firm in your location. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet RBS- First Active’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.