Topaz Finance 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. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system is the only way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on Topaz Finance’s changes. Even though utilising the software is not a condition for being on the Topaz Finance panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Topaz Finance’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your panel standing.

The system 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 many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Topaz Finance

Mortgage companies frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Topaz Finance 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, Topaz Finance has made 200 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 13.7 days. In total, 36% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Topaz Finance have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.4.5 08/06/2015 CML
Full monies through the firm's account
Contact details at Topaz Finance plc for conveyancing panel lawyers were the law firm will not have control over the payment of all the purchase money.
5.7.1c 08/06/2015 CML
Flying Freeholds
Contact details at Topaz Finance plc for approved lawyers where for reporting purposes where the property is a freehold flat or flying freehold, to which contact point must this be reported and where Topaz Finance plc lend on such properties
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
17.2.1b 12/07/2013 CML
Evidence of Discharge of Mortgage
Do Topaz Finance plc send the discharge via a DS 1 form or direct with the Land Registry?
16.3.2 01/12/2010 CML
Transfer of Equity
Topaz Finance plc details for requesting debt amount
16.4.1 01/12/2010 CML
Consent to Let
Contact details at Topaz Finance plc for consent to let.
16.5.3b 01/12/2010 CML
Deed of Rectification
Where do solicitors and conveyancers send the deed of rectification in relation to Topaz Finance plc mortgages ?
17.1.1 01/12/2010 CML
Redemption Statements
Contact details at Topaz Finance plc for approved lawyers to request redemption statements .
5.14.9 01/12/2010 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Contact details at Topaz Finance plc for conveyancing panel lawyers for matters relating to the lease.

Last update 02/04/2020

Topaz Finance Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my conveyancer is not isted on the Topaz Finance Solicitor panel that there is a problem with the quality of the firm’s conveyancing?
That would more than likely be a wrong assumption to make. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 3 reasons are as follows: (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. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Topaz Finance.
can you help? My solicitor is advising me that he is legally obliged to conduct a Local Authority search stemming from the fact that the firm are on the Topaz Finance conveyancing panel. Do I not have a choice here?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with Topaz Finance your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Topaz Finance’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Topaz Finance. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the Topaz Finance conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 miles to meet the lawyer.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel search 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 Topaz Finance solicitor panel.
I am trying to get my ex-wife removed the mortgage deeds. Can Topaz Finance really tell me which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but Topaz Finance 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 Topaz Finance solicitors panel
How can we tell if a solicitor on the Topaz Finance panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advise that you speak with the solicitor conducting your conveyancing
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Once we agree a price, what’s the best way to move forward? I plan to obtain a mortgage with Topaz Finance. Is it possible to avoid using solicitors to save on the costs? My father said that years ago it was possible to take the documents into the local Land Registry office and they did the rest
If you are getting a mortgage with Topaz Finance involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Topaz Finance conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Topaz Finance. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Topaz Finance conveyancing panel.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a mortgage from Topaz Finance. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about Topaz Finance. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Almost all lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the Topaz Finance branches or the Customer Services Department at Topaz Finance head office. Ordinarily complaints to Topaz Finance are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR with full details of your complaint.