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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 an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. It is supported by PI insurers such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This software facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on First Direct’s changes. Even though using the software is not a prerequisite for First Direct , demonstrating you can stay up to date with First Direct’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

The system creates 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 some firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by First Direct

Mortgage companies frequently 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, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, First Direct has made 246 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the UK Finance Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 11.1 days. In total, 12% 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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Common questions asked concerning the First Direct Solicitor Panel from members of the public

My mortgage broker has asked me for my law firm’s panel reference for the First Direct conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I obtain this. I have e-mailed my local First Direct branch but they cant find it on their system.
Have you tried speaking to your lawyer about this?. They should have a central record lender panel numbers including the First Direct panel reference.
I am buying a brand new apartment and my conveyancer is telling me that she has to reveal incentives from the seller as her firm is on the First Direct conveyancing panel. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I have no desire to delay the conveyancing. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the First Direct panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. 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 Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I am buying a house and require a conveyancing solicitor in London who is on the First Direct conveyancing. 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 First Direct . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
What happens if my lawyer’s firm is suspended from the First Direct Solicitor panel before completion?
First, 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.
I was told three 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.
First Direct have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up First Direct or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. First Direct will tell you what documents they want. First Direct will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. First Direct will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
My husband and I are purchasing a house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to beinstructed. My motherrecommended that we check that the property lawyer in Hendon is on the First Direct panel. Is this really necessary?
Far from all Hendon conveyancing firms are on the First Direct conveyancing panel. Use the above search tool to find a Hendon conveyancing solicitor on the on the First Direct panel.

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