Harpenden Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Harpenden Building Society’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a condition for being on the Harpenden Building Society panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Harpenden Building Society’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Harpenden Building Society

Lenders frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Harpenden Building Society 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, Harpenden Building Society has made 149 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 18.3 days. In total, 63% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Harpenden Building Society have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
1.14 01/12/2014 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Can the approved conveyancing firm act for Harpenden Building Society if the person dealing with the conveyancing or a member of his immediate family is the seller?
5.4.6 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Search Insurance
Harpenden Building Society panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept search insurance and, if yes, the Harpenden Building Society requirements
Local Search Indemnity Insurance
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Harpenden Building Society panel lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
5.8.1 18/08/2014 CML
Freehold and leasehold owner of multiple flats
Harpenden Building Society panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept security which comprises a building converted into not more than four flats where the borrower occupies one of those flats and the borrower or another flat owner also owns the freehold of the building and the other flats are subject to long leases?
16.5.3c 01/12/2010 CML
Deed of Easement
Contact details at Harpenden Building Society for approved lawyers to send the deed of easement .
5.19.1 01/12/2010 CML
Shared Ownership and Shared Equity
Contact details at Harpenden Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers for lending on affordable housing, shared equity and shared ownership and where relevant Harpenden Building Society requirements.
5.5.1b 01/12/2010 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.4.5 01/12/2010 CML
Full monies through the firm's account
Contact details at Harpenden Building Society for approved lawyers were the law firm will not have control over the payment of all the purchase money.
6.8.1 01/12/2010 CML
Roads and Sewers
Contact details at Harpenden Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers if no agreement and bond for an unadopted road or sewer
Adoption of Road or Sewer Indemnity Insurance

Last update 10/07/2019

Harpenden Building Society Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

I am hoping to receive a mortgage offer from Harpenden Building Society. my intention is to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the Harpenden Building Society Solicitor panel include conveyancers regulated by the CLC
Harpenden Building Society’s approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders represented by the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.
Our conveyancer has uncovered a defect with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor says that as he is on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is Harpenden Building Society?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and Harpenden Building Society are the client. A precondition to being on the Harpenden Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Harpenden Building Society). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that Harpenden Building Society 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.
Are the lawyers identified as being on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Harpenden Building Society?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Harpenden Building Society directly.
My uncle passed away six months ago and as sole heir and executor was left the house. The house had a small mortgage remaining of approximately £5k. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Harpenden Building Society , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Harpenden Building Society will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Harpenden Building Society mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel?
It is true that some lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Harpenden Building Society as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Harpenden Building Society do not ordinarily appoint firms on 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 Harpenden Building Society list
I currently have a mortgage with with Harpenden Building Society. Conveyancing was finalised 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Harpenden Building Society?
Harpenden Building Society must be informed of your intention before renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Harpenden Building Society’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Harpenden Building Society will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Harpenden Building Society directly. You need not do this via a Harpenden Building Society conveyancing panel firm.