National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This software facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on National Westminster Bank’s changes. Even though utilising the software is not a prerequisite for National Westminster Bank , demonstrating you can stay up to date with National Westminster Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for some firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by National Westminster Bank

Banks and building societies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from National Westminster Bank 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, National Westminster Bank has made 486 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 5.6 days. In total, 63% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for National Westminster Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
16.3.7a 15/11/2018 CML
Transfer of Equity
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for approved lawyers for obtaining execution of transfer equity
5.14.9 20/09/2018 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for approved lawyers for matters relating to the lease.
3.1.3 03/09/2018 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do National Westminster Bank plc require notification form their panel lawyer of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
4.5b 02/03/2018 CML
Certificates of Title
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers where COT should be sent
10.7 28/12/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
In the event of a delayed completion, when and how is advance to be returned to National Westminster Bank plc by the conveyancing panel?
16.5.3c 28/12/2017 CML
Deed of Easement
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for approved lawyers to send the deed of easement .
17.2.1a 28/12/2017 CML
Redemption Payments
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the discharge and repayment remittance in relation to National Westminster Bank plc mortgages ?
16.5.3c 27/10/2017 CML
Deed of Easement
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for conveyancing panel lawyers to send the deed of easement .
4.5a 27/10/2017 CML
Mortagge valuation - Reinspections
Contact details at National Westminster Bank plc for approved lawyers where re-inspection required
5.7.1a 02/12/2016 CML
Flying Freeholds
National Westminster Bank plc approved lawyers clarification as to whether they lend on flying freeholds
Flying Freehold Indemnity Insurance

Last update 09/01/2019

Common questions asked concerning the National Westminster Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public

I am obtaining a mortgage offer from National Westminster Bank. my intention is to use a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers
National Westminster Bank’s conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
Our solicitor has uncovered a problem with the lease for the property we are purchasing. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer says that as he is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or National Westminster Bank?
Just because you have a mortgage offer from National Westminster Bank does not mean to say that the property will be meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the CML Handbook Requirements. You and National Westminster Bank are the client. These conveyancing instructions must be adhered to by the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel who has to balance acting for you and National Westminster Bank
How up to date is your database of lawyers on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel? Do National Westminster Bank send you an updated list?
The law firm practices themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from National Westminster Bank directly.
Please explain the implications if my solicitor is suspended from the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing panel before completion?
First, this is a very rare occurrence. 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 at a cost.
I previously instructed online conveyancers located in Manchester who are on the National Westminster Bank solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £195 for the legal aspects of the National Westminster Bank mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by National Westminster Bank?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by National Westminster Bank but by your lawyers. Some firms on the National Westminster Bank will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the National Westminster Bank panel is any good?
Getting recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advise that you speak with the lawyer handling your conveyancing
I have a mortgage with National Westminster Bank. 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 Westminster Bank?
Your original mortgage agreement with National Westminster Bank will provide that you need their approval before letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of National Westminster Bank’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies 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 Westminster Bank directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel lawyer.