Ulster Bank 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 management tool.

This system assists the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Ulster Bank’s changes. While utilising the tool is not a prerequisite for Ulster Bank , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Ulster Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, safeguard your panel status.

The system 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, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Ulster Bank

Banks and building societies often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Ulster 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, Ulster Bank has made 192 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 14.2 days. In total, 43% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Ulster Bank have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Frequently asked questions relating to the Ulster Bank Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

Is the fact that my solicitor is not on the Ulster Bank Solicitor panel that there is a problem with the standard of his conveyancing?
It would not be wise to jump to that conclusion. 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 most common reasons for removal 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. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Ulster Bank.
My conveyancer has spotted an inconsistency when comparing the information in Ulster Bank’s home valuation report and what is in the title deeds. My lawyer has advised that as he is on the Ulster Bank conveyancing panel he is obliged to check that the lender is happy with this discrepancy and is content go ahead. Is my lawyer’s course or action right?
A precondition to being on the Ulster Bank approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Ulster Bank) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
I have been Googling for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be confident that all the practices that are listed on your website are on the Ulster Bank conveyancing panel?
The law firms on our directory have advised us that they are on the Ulster Bank panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Ulster Bank panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Ulster Bank conveyancing panel is incorrect.
I was scheduled to complete on my first house last Thursday. My solicitor is on the Ulster Bank solicitors panel but has changed address 8 weeks ago and had not informed Ulster Bank of their new address. Ulster Bank is now refusing to release my funds as the information from the solicitors isn't correct.
This is a rare situation indeed. Most lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Ulster Bank branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Ulster Bank. Solicitors have been appointed? How long does it take for Ulster Bank to send the offer to our conveyancer
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Ulster Bank conducted the survey? Have you advised Ulster Bank as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Ulster Bank conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through
The for formalities of my remortgage has taken place with a mortgage from Ulster Bank. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Ulster Bank. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Ulster Bank branches or the Customer Care Team at Ulster Bank head office. In most cases complaints to Ulster Bank are sorted out very quickly. If you feel that the matter is not resolved you can write to the Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
Can I register a complaint to Ulster Bank about the lawyers being on the Ulster Bank conveyancing panel?
There is little point in complaining directly to Ulster Bank. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.

The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.

If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.