RBS- First Active Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system facilitates 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. While utilising the tool 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, just as importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel standing.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by RBS- First Active

Lenders often 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,

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RBS- First Active Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

For what reasons would a firm of solicitors be excluded from the RBS- First Active solicitor panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of solicitor practices had been excluded from a lender panel. The top reasons in order are :
  1. lack of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by RBS- First Active
My conveyancer has requested from me identification documents stating that this forms part of his requirements as a conveyancer on the RBS- First Active Solicitor panel. Is this right?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy RBS- First Active
Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to pop into the offices of the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel solicitor to execute the legal charge? If so, I will appoint a lawyer who conducts conveyancing in Bristol so that I can pop in to their offices if required.
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.
I am purchasing a new build flat and getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the RBS- First Active 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 RBS- First Active conveyancing panel in your location.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel?
A selection of banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their panels.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender RBS- First Active be concerned
Given that your lender is RBS- First Active your lawyer must to check the RBS- First Active conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for RBS- First Active . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to RBS- First Active where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a solicitor having made sure that they are on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or I've digested plenty of mortgage guides,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the RBS- First Active conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
RBS- First Active will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually RBS- First Active will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with RBS- First Active you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.