Scottish Widows Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the CML and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Scottish Widows’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising this technology is not a prerequisite for Scottish Widows , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Scottish Widows’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces compliance and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

Book a Scottish Widows Demo for this Panel Compliance Tool

Mortgage companies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Scottish Widows 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, Scottish Widows has made 294 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 9.3 days. In total, 43% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Scottish Widows 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
10.7 29/09/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
In the event of a delayed completion, when and how is advance to be returned to Scottish Widows Bank plc by the approved lawyer?
16.3.2 29/09/2017 CML
Transfer of Equity
Scottish Widows Bank plc details for requesting debt amount
5.13.1 24/05/2016 CML
Balance of Monies
Contact details at Scottish Widows Bank plc 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
6.14.1 02/12/2014 CML
Building Insurance
Scottish Widows Bank plc approved lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
14.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Does the Scottish Widows Bank plc need to be sent the original mortgage deed and/or any other original title documents by their conveyancing panel ?
4.1 01/12/2014 CML
Mortage valuation
Do Scottish Widows Bank plc arrange for there to be a valuation report and if so, do they provide it to their conveyancing panel lawyers ?
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
3.1.3 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do Scottish Widows Bank plc require notification form their panel lawyer of the name and address of the solicitors firm or licensed conveyancers firm acting for the seller?
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Scottish Widows Bank plc approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)

Last update 09/11/2018

Examples of recent questions relating to the Scottish Widows Solicitor Panel from members of the public

How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find one who is on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. Is it advisable to appoint a new law firm?
If you haven't yet instructed a solicitor to do anything for you and have just received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer you're considering.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Scottish Widows will not agree to this. Why was Scottish Widows even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Scottish Widows of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Scottish Widows then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Scottish Widows.
I am purchasing a house and need a conveyancing solicitor in London who is on the Scottish Widows conveyancing. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a solicitor?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Scottish Widows . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
My grandfather passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the property. The house had a relatively small loan left on it of around £8000. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Scottish Widows , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Scottish Widows will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Do most banks 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 Scottish Widows conveyancing panel requirements are different to Scottish Widows’s conveyancing panel criteria.
We expect to receive a DIP from Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows recommend a solicitor on the Scottish Widows 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 Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Scottish Widows through the process.
Scottish Widows have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Scottish Widows or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Scottish Widows will tell you what documents they want. Scottish Widows will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Scottish Widows will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.