The Mortgage Works Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with alerts on The Mortgage Works’s changes. Notwithstanding that using this technology is not a condition for acceptance on the The Mortgage Works panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with The Mortgage Works’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, more importantly, safeguard your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for some firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by The Mortgage Works

Mortgage companies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from The Mortgage Works 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, The Mortgage Works 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, 61% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for The Mortgage Works 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
5.15.2a 02/05/2019 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing : Management Company
Contact details at The Mortgage Works for approved lawyers for apparent problems with the management company.
1.15 04/04/2019 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Can the panel conveyancing firm act for The Mortgage Works if the person dealing with the conveyancing or a member of his immediate family is the borrower?
6.7.1 16/03/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Mortgage Works approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
5.4.5 05/03/2018 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Personal Searches
The Mortgage Works panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept personal searches and, if yes, the The Mortgage Works requirements
Local Search Indemnity Insurance
6.6.3 24/10/2017 CML
Buy to Let Conveyancing
The Mortgage Works panel lawyers requirements concerning receiving counterpart/certified copy tenancy agreements
5.14.9 17/05/2017 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Contact details at The Mortgage Works for conveyancing panel lawyers for matters relating to the lease.
5.14.1 11/05/2017 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
The Mortgage Works approved lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : minimum unexpired lease term
6.7.1 31/01/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Mortgage Works panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
5.4.4 18/10/2016 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Environmental Searches
The Mortgage Works approved lawyers requirement as to whether they want receive environmental or contaminated land reports
5.14.1 24/03/2016 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
The Mortgage Works panel lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : minimum unexpired lease term

Last update 24/05/2019

FAQs : The The Mortgage Works Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

On what basis would a firm of solicitors be removed from the The Mortgage Works solicitor panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of solicitor practices had been excluded from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
  1. lack of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by The Mortgage Works
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 The Mortgage Works will not agree to this. Why was The Mortgage Works even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform The Mortgage Works of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to The Mortgage Works then they would have to discontinue acting for you and The Mortgage Works.
What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 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 The Mortgage Works solicitor panel.
My lawyers in Newcastle have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with The Mortgage Works. Is it case that being on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the The Mortgage Works Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting The Mortgage Works directly.
Can you point me to a directory of The Mortgage Works panel solicitors on the Building Society Association’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.
I'm in the throws of looking at flats and am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have a conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I intend to finance via a mortgage with The Mortgage Works
It would be sensible to have your start your search soon rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the estate agent. As you are getting a mortgage with The Mortgage Works , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with The Mortgage Works. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use 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 The Mortgage Works you will need to appoint a solicitor on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel.