National Counties Building Society Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on National Counties Building Society’s changes. While using the tool is not a prerequisite for National Counties Building Society , demonstrating you can remain up to date with National Counties Building Society’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will improve 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 National Counties Building Society

Mortgage companies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from National Counties 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, National Counties Building Society has made 136 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 20.1 days. In total, 44% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for National Counties Building Society have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
1.11a 15/04/2019 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for approved lawyers to obtain mortgage documentation
5.7.1a 01/08/2017 CML
Flying Freeholds
National Counties Building Society approved lawyers clarification as to whether they lend on flying freeholds
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance
6.7.1 01/03/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
National Counties Building Society approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
16.5.3a 21/03/2016 CML
Deed of Variation
National Counties Building Society requirements for conveyancing panel lawyers as to whether National Counties Building Society need to be sent a Deed of Variation
17.1.1 21/03/2016 CML
Redemption Statements
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers to request redemption statements .
1.11b 15/09/2014 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for conveyancing panel lawyers to where standard mortgage documentation is inappropriate
5.14.15a 15/09/2014 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing; Absentee Freeholder
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for approved lawyers where there is an absentee freeholder/insolvent landlord.
Absentee Landlord Indemnity Insurance
5.16.2 15/09/2014 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing : Management Company
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for approved lawyers if unable to certify search entry on bankruptcy search does not relate to borrower.
6.5.1 15/09/2014 CML
Vacant Possession on Completion
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for approved lawyers were vacant possession is not being given.
5.7.1c 15/09/2014 CML
Flying Freeholds
Contact details at National Counties Building Society for approved lawyers where for reporting purposes where the property is a freehold flat or flying freehold, to which contact point must this be reported and where National Counties Building Society lend on such properties
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance

Last update 21/07/2019

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

Much to my surprise I have been told by my lender that my lawyer is not on the National Counties Building Society Conveyancing panel. What can I do to be sure that this is correct?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the the approved National Counties Building Society solicitor panel.
I am purchasing a newly built flat and my conveyancer is advising me that she has to disclose incentives from the builder as her practice is on the National Counties Building Society conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and I have no desire to prolong deal. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the National Counties Building Society panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the National Counties Building Society approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on National Counties Building Society). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near Manchester on the National Counties Building Society conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for National Counties Building Society ?
We are not in the business of recommending one firm above another as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
My grandfather passed away last year 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 National Counties Building Society , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then National Counties Building Society will insist on your using a conveyancer on the National Counties 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 National Counties 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 National Counties Building Society mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
I have paid off my mortgage with National Counties Building Society. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the National Counties Building Society panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your National Counties Building Society mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the National Counties Building Society mortgage from the register. National Counties Building Society,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage: but are not moving to another property where the National Counties Building Society has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and the National Counties Building Society has instructed the Land Registry to do so The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your National Counties Building Society mortgage has been paid off.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with National Counties Building Society. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have 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 National Counties Building Society you will need to appoint a solicitor on the National Counties Building Society conveyancing panel.
I have a mortgage with National Counties Building Society. Conveyancing was finalised 12 months ago. If I am intending 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 National Counties Building Society?
Your original mortgage agreement with National Counties Building Society will provide that you need their approval prior to renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of National Counties Building Society’s mortgage conditions. It may be that National Counties 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 National Counties Building Society directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a National Counties Building Society conveyancing panel lawyer.