Sainsbury's Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s 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 is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on Sainsbury's Bank’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a condition for acceptance on the Sainsbury's Bank panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Sainsbury's Bank’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, safeguard your panel standing.

The system creates 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 some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Sainsbury's Bank

Banks and building societies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Sainsbury's 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, Sainsbury's Bank has made 109 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 25.0 days. In total, 57% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Sainsbury's Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

Book a Personalised Demo

Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
10.10 31/05/2017 CML
holding the mortgage advance
10.9 31/05/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
Do Sainsburys Bank have a specific contact point if completion is delayed for their approved lawyer?
1.14 31/05/2017 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Can the panel conveyancing firm act for Sainsburys Bank if the person dealing with the conveyancing or a member of his immediate family is the seller?
16.3.1 31/05/2017 CML
Transfer of Equity
Sainsburys Bank clarification as to whether they have a standard form of Transfer of Equity/Deed of Covenant?
16.3.2 31/05/2017 CML
Transfer of Equity
Sainsburys Bank details for requesting debt amount
16.5.3b 31/05/2017 CML
Deed of Rectification
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the deed of rectification in relation to Sainsburys Bank mortgages ?
4.5b 31/05/2017 CML
Certificates of Title
Contact details at Sainsburys Bank for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers where COT should be sent
5.19.1 31/05/2017 CML
Shared Ownership and Shared Equity
Contact details at Sainsburys Bank for conveyancing panel lawyers for lending on affordable housing, shared equity and shared ownership and where relevant Sainsburys Bank requirements.
5.5.3a 31/05/2017 CML
Planning Permission and Building Regulations : Breaches
Contact details at Sainsburys Bank for conveyancing panel lawyers where there evidence of breach and all outstanding conditions will not be satisfied by completion
Lack of Planning Permission Indemnity Insurance
6.6.4 31/05/2017 CML
Houses in Multipe Occupation
Sainsburys Bank panel conveyancer requirements where the property comes within the definition of a house in multiple occupation

Last update 17/02/2019

FAQs for the Sainsburys Bank Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

Much to my surprise I have been told by my lender that my property lawyer is not on the Sainsburys Bank Conveyancing panel. How can I be certain that this is indeed the case?
The first thing you need to do is to contact your conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the the approved Sainsburys Bank solicitor panel.
My son-in-law is buying a house that has just been built with a home loan from Sainsburys Bank. His solicitor has said that there is a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when requested.

The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.

The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

I am planning to acquire a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in Manchester who is on the Sainsburys Bank solicitor. 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 Sainsburys Bank . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
My aunt passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a small mortgage remaining of approximately £8000. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Sainsburys Bank , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this possible?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Sainsburys Bank will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Sainsburys Bank 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 Sainsburys Bank 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 Sainsburys Bank mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
When it comes to lenders such as Sainsburys Bank do solicitors have to be pay a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
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 Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel requirements are different to Sainsburys Bank’s conveyancing panel requirements.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called into my local branch Sainsburys Bank on numerous occasions and told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Sainsburys Bank conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
As long as the conveyancer is on the Sainsburys Bank panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Sainsburys Bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Sainsburys Bank will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Sainsburys Bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.