Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This software facilitates the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Bank of Scotland’s changes. While utilising this technology is not a prerequisite for Bank of Scotland , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Bank of Scotland’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Bank of Scotland

Banks and building societies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Bank of Scotland 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, Bank of Scotland has made 280 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 9.8 days. In total, 28% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Bank of Scotland 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
6.7.1 13/08/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
17.1.1 05/06/2018 CML
Redemption Statements
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for approved lawyers to request redemption statements .
6.7.1 07/03/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 10/07/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 19/05/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 21/11/2016 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
5.1.1 24/10/2016 CML
Properties owned for less than 6 months
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for conveyancing panel lawyers where there is a restriction on use.
5.13.1 26/08/2016 CML
Balance of Monies
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for conveyancing panel lawyers where borrower is not providing balance of purchase price from funds/proposing to give second charge.
Insolvency Act Indemnity Insurance Deed of Gift Indemnity Insurance
10.2b 23/05/2016 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
What is the minimum number of days notice Bank of Scotland require ahead of sending the mortgage advance?
7.4 23/05/2016 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for conveyancing panel conveyancers if doubts about accuracy of information concerning occupation of the property

Last update 23/03/2020

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

My IFA has says he needs my law firm’s panel reference for the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel. How do I obtain this. I have e-mailed my local Bank of Scotland branch but they have not responded to me.
Have you tried speaking to your lawyer about this?. A law firm is likely to keep a file or database of lender panel information which would include, if applicable their conveyancing panel details for Bank of Scotland.
Please help. My solicitor is assuring me that he is legally obliged to apply for a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with Bank of Scotland your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Bank of Scotland’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Bank of Scotland. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Are there any apps to help find a local solicitor on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 kilometers to meet the solicitor.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Bank of Scotland solicitor panel.
I am considering applying for a Bank of Scotland mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 65 per cent loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Bank of Scotland?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but Bank of Scotland will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
Can you point me to a directory of Bank of Scotland panel solicitors 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.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a mortgage from Bank of Scotland. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I would like to complain about Bank of Scotland. How does one go about formally complaining?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Bank of Scotland branches or the Customer Services Department at Bank of Scotland head office. In most cases complaints to Bank of Scotland are sorted out very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
I have instructed a lawyer having made sure that they are on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property? Or I've read lots of mortgage guides,I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my solicitor - who is on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Bank of Scotland will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Bank of Scotland will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller. or Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Scotland you could contact your them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors.