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National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

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How can my firm apply to be on the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status
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How can my firm be reinstated onto the National Westminster Bank Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. It is supported by PI insurers such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on National Westminster Bank’s changes. Even though using the software is not a condition for acceptance on the National Westminster Bank panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with National Westminster Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor 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 National Westminster Bank

Lenders often change 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, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, National Westminster Bank has made 737 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the UK Finance Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 3.7 days. In total, 67% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for National Westminster Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Examples of recent questions relating to the National Westminster Bank Solicitor Panel from members of the public

The solicitor my husband and I had intended to instruct on a purchase said he will levy higher legal fees if my mortgage is with National Westminster Bank due to their unusual legal requirements. Am I likely to be frustrated using National Westminster Bank? Any comments will be appreciated
National Westminster Bank conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders. It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender. It is not clear if your lawyer is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as National Westminster Bank will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
I am due to move into my new home next Tuesday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as as he informs me that he is duty bound to validate that it is in order for National Westminster Bank. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in National Westminster Bank’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on National Westminster Bank). Being on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these requirements.
How up to date is your search tool for 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.
The lawyers that just started acting on my purchase in Hendon has without warning closed. I only went with them because I had to have a lawyer on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel and my previous lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £175 for searches. What do I do now?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to assist
Is it the case that all conveyancing solicitors on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
I'm in the throws of looking at apartments and now considering a potential offer. Is it best to have a conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I will be getting a home loan with National Westminster Bank
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the EA. As you are getting a mortgage with National Westminster Bank , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage agreed with National Westminster Bank. 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 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 Westminster Bank you will need to appoint a solicitor on the National Westminster Bank conveyancing panel.

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