RBS - Direct Line Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on RBS - Direct Line’s changes. Even though using the software is not a prerequisite for RBS - Direct Line , demonstrating you can stay up to date with RBS - Direct Line’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will increase 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 RBS - Direct Line

Mortgage companies often change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from RBS - Direct Line 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, RBS - Direct Line has made 193 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 14.1 days. In total, 46% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS - Direct Line have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Q and A’s regarding the RBS - Direct Line Solicitor Panel from members of the public

My husband and I are buying a 2 bedroom flat in London with a mortgage from RBS - Direct Line. We have a solicitor but RBS - Direct Line says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the RBS - Direct Line panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for RBS - Direct Line
Our solicitor has identified a defect with the lease for the flat we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have put forward defective title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor has advised that as he is on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel he must check that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is RBS - Direct Line?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and RBS - Direct Line are the client. A precondition to being on the RBS - Direct Line approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS - Direct Line). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that RBS - Direct Line can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am planning to acquire a house and need a conveyancing solicitor in Newcastle who is on the RBS - Direct Line approved. Can you recommend a local firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for RBS - Direct Line . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
My uncle passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a relatively small loan remaining of approximately £5k. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to RBS - Direct Line , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then RBS - Direct Line will insist on your using a conveyancer on the RBS - Direct Line 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 RBS - Direct Line 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 RBS - Direct Line mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Do most lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel requirements are different to RBS - Direct Line’s conveyancing panel requirements.
We were going to get a DIP from RBS - Direct Line this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the RBS - Direct Line recommend a solicitor on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the RBS - Direct Line through the process.
I had an offer accepted on a property on the 17th March 2014, valuation was booked 4 days after, all came back fine. Conveyancer retained, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to RBS - Direct Line and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel. Are RBS - Direct Line entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for RBS - Direct Line to deal with your lawyers application to be on the RBS - Direct Line conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.