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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

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. It is supported by professional indemnity insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on First Direct’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a prerequisite for First Direct , demonstrating you can remain up to date with First Direct’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by First Direct

Banks and building societies often vary 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, over time:

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.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,
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Examples of recent questions relating to the First Direct Solicitor Panel from members of the public

My husband and I are FTBs. Within the last couple of days our property lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with a view to exchanging next week. First Direct have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our lawyer is not on their conveyancing panel. Please explain?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.

In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your property lawyers should contact First Direct and see if they can apply for membership of the First Direct conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable First Direct will instruct their own solicitors to act. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the First Direct conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

Our conveyancer has uncovered a defect with the lease for the flat we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a solution. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the First Direct conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or First Direct?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and First Direct are the client. A precondition to being on the First Direct approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on First Direct). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that First Direct can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . 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.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the First Direct conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the First Direct approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the First Direct conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the First Direct solicitor panel.
I am considering applying for a First Direct mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 60% LTV. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for First Direct?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but First Direct will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
We expect to receive a DIP from First Direct this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the First Direct recommend a solicitor on the First Direct conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the First Direct conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the First Direct through the process.
We have agreed a price on a flat I spoke to a solicitor recommended by my uncle and he suggested instructing a solicitor approved by First Direct. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked First Direct if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. First Direct pointed out that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of First Direct 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Enquire of First Direct for conveyancing panel firms in your area. 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 First Direct 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 First Direct conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet First Direct’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.
I was told four weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by First Direct. Is it usual for First Direct to only issue the offer once my solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for First Direct to deal with your lawyers application to be on the First Direct conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.

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