Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Mortgage Agency Services’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for Mortgage Agency Services , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Mortgage Agency Services’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

The system 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 Mortgage Agency Services

Mortgage companies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Mortgage Agency Services 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, Mortgage Agency Services has made 25 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 109.2 days. In total, 10% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Mortgage Agency Services have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
3.1.4 01/12/2014 CML
details of the seller's solicitors or licensed conveyancers
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
5.5.1b 01/12/2014 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
3.1.3 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do Mortgage Agency Services require notification form their approved lawyer of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
5.20.4 08/07/2013 CML
Green Deal Plans
Mortgage Agency Services requirements for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers as to whether Mortgage Agency Services need to be advised as to details of any existing Green Deal Plan(s) on a property
14.1.5 29/04/2013 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Does the Mortgage Agency Services need to be sent the original mortgage deed and/or any other original title documents by their approved lawyer ?
5.20.1 12/09/2012 CML
Solar Panels
Mortgage Agency Services requirements for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers as to whether Mortgage Agency Services need to be reported to where the lease does not meet the CML minimum requirements for leases of roof space for solar PV panels

Last update 20/09/2019

Common questions asked concerning the Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

What is the rationale as to why all solicitors aren't included on the Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancing panel?
Mortgage Agency Services and other lenders tend to imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing firms on their panel. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that Mortgage Agency Services have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Mortgage Agency Services Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, Conveyancing is not their speciality? To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime; probably not.
Our lawyer has requested from me personal identification documents saying that this is part of his retainer as a conveyancer on the Mortgage Agency Services Solicitor panel. Is this right?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Terms and Conditions that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that Mortgage Agency Services also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with Mortgage Agency Services CML Handbook requirements last updated on Mortgage Agency Services
I note that you have a post code search directory identifying law firms on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am purchasing a garden flat and getting a mortgage with Mortgage Agency Services. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services 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 Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel in your location.
When it comes to lenders such as Mortgage Agency Services do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
Hi, thinking about buying a house off my mate. Once we agree a price, what’s the best way to move forward? I hope to get a mortgage with Mortgage Agency Services. Is there anyway to cut out the solicitors to save us both money? My father said that years ago it was possible to take the documents into the local Land Registry office and they did the rest
If you are getting a mortgage with Mortgage Agency Services involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Mortgage Agency Services. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Mortgage Agency Services. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Mortgage Agency Services you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Mortgage Agency Services conveyancing panel.