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First Direct Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

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How can my firm apply to be on the First Direct Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status
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How can my firm be reinstated onto the First Direct Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. It is supported by PI insurers. 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 automatic updates on First Direct’s changes. While utilising the tool is not a condition for acceptance on the First Direct panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with First Direct’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your panel status.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

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Lenders often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from First Direct 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, First Direct has made 265 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the UK Finance Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 10.3 days. In total, 14% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for First Direct have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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FAQs for the First Direct Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

A solicitor my husband and I wanted to use for conveyancing on a purchase said she will levy higher legal fees if my lender is due to their unusual legal requirements. Will I regret using First Direct? Any comments will be appreciated
First Direct conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders. It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender. It is not clear if your lawyer is on the First Direct conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as First Direct will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
We are nearing an exchange and my mum and dad having transferred the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my lender First Direct. I am advised that, being on the First Direct conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform First Direct if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I informed the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the home loan so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with First Direct to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to First Direct if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Do I need to attend the offices of the First Direct conveyancing panel solicitor to execute the legal charge? If so, I will appoint a lawyer who conducts conveyancing in Liverpool so that I can pop in to their offices if required.
Most conveyancing panel lawyers for First Direct 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 attempting to get my ex-wife taken off the mortgage deeds. Can First Direct really tell me which solicitor I can or can not use?
You can use any solicitor you like but First Direct then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the First Direct solicitors panel
We have a mortgage agreed in principle with First Direct. Solicitors have been appointed? How long does it take for First Direct to send the offer to our conveyancer
Some lenders take longer than others. Have First Direct done the valuation? Have you advised First Direct as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the First Direct conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through
My husband and I are spending time viewing houses and now considering a potential offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I I am planning to take a mortgage with First Direct
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 First Direct , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the First Direct conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
My ex -wife’s name is on the First Direct mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the First Direct mortgage in order to sell?
In terms of the First Direct mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of First Direct in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.

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