Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This software is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on Bank of Scotland’s changes. While using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for acceptance on the Bank of Scotland panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Bank of Scotland’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your panel status.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Bank of Scotland

Lenders often change 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, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Bank of Scotland has made 277 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 9.9 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
6.4.4 31/08/2018 CML
Disclosing Incentives
Bank of Scotland panel lawyers additional requirements concerning reporting incentives
17.1.1 05/06/2018 CML
Redemption Statements
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for conveyancing panel lawyers to request redemption statements .
17.2.1a 05/04/2018 CML
Redemption Payments
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the discharge and repayment remittance in relation to Bank of Scotland mortgages ?
6.7.1 07/03/2018 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
5.13.1 26/08/2016 CML
Balance of Monies
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for approved 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?
5.13.1 23/05/2016 CML
Balance of Monies
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for approved 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
7.4 23/05/2016 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Contact details at Bank of Scotland for approved conveyancers if doubts about accuracy of information concerning occupation of the property
6.7.1 09/05/2016 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Bank of Scotland approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes

Last update 09/11/2019

Bank of Scotland Conveyancing Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public

It has come to my attention via my financial adviser that my property lawyer is not on the Bank of Scotland Conveyancing panel. What can I do to be sure that this is correct?
You need to contact your lawyer directly. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the the approved Bank of Scotland solicitor panel.
My lawyer has discovered an inconsistency between the surveyor’s assumptions in Bank of Scotland’s home valuation survey and what is in the legal papers for the property. My lawyer says that as he is on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel he must ensure that the bank is happy with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s course or action right?
A precondition to being on the Bank of Scotland approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Bank of Scotland) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
How do I search for a local solicitor on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 20 kilometers to meet the solicitor.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. 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 would like to get my former partner removed the mortgage deeds. Can Bank of Scotland really tell me which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but Bank of Scotland then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Bank of Scotland solicitors panel
Are all Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel?
A selection of lenders now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.
I had instructed online conveyancers located in Cardiff who are on the Bank of Scotland solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Bank of Scotland mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Bank of Scotland?
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 Bank of Scotland but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Bank of Scotland will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage agreed with Bank of Scotland. 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 Bank of Scotland you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Bank of Scotland conveyancing panel.