Mortgage Express (No 2) 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. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Mortgage Express (No 2)’s changes. Even though utilising the tool is not a prerequisite for Mortgage Express (No 2) , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Mortgage Express (No 2)’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA 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 a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Mortgage Express (No 2)

Lenders frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Mortgage Express (No 2) 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 Express (No 2) has made 89 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 30.7 days. In total, 8% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Mortgage Express (No 2) have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Mortgage Express (No 2) Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

We are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in Leeds with a mortgage from Mortgage Express (No 2). We would like to retain our lawyer but Mortgage Express (No 2) says she’s not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct one of the Mortgage Express (No 2) panel solicitors or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; Can we not simply insist that Mortgage Express (No 2) use our lawyer?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Mortgage Express (No 2)
We are getting closer to an exchange and my mum and dad having sent the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender Mortgage Express (No 2). I am advised that, being on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Mortgage Express (No 2) if the balance of the mortgage advance is coming from anyone other than me. I informed the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Mortgage Express (No 2) 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 Mortgage Express (No 2) if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I need to find a Mortgage Express (No 2) panel solicitor in Stirling. Could you help me?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Mortgage Express (No 2) panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Mortgage Express (No 2) to find out which solicitors in Mortgage Express (No 2) are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. At a fee of one pound per month it is not expensive to register on the site
We're in Birmingham, FTBs buying with a mortgage (lender is Mortgage Express (No 2) , but our lawyer is on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
Can you point me to a directory of Mortgage Express (No 2) panel conveyancers on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Is it the case that all conveyancing lawyers on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
My offer on house has been accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What should be my next step? When should I get the mortgage app going with Mortgage Express (No 2)?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the Mortgage Express (No 2) conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with Mortgage Express (No 2) and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.