RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on RBS - Virgin One’s changes. Even though using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for acceptance on the RBS - Virgin One panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with RBS - Virgin One’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your panel application and, just as importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by RBS - Virgin One

Banks and building societies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from RBS - Virgin One 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, RBS - Virgin One has made 237 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 11.5 days. In total, 54% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS - Virgin One 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
5.19.1 19/07/2016 CML
Shared Ownership and Shared Equity
Contact details at The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One for conveyancing panel lawyers for lending on affordable housing, shared equity and shared ownership and where relevant The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One requirements.
10.2b 05/07/2016 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
What is the minimum number of days notice The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One require ahead of sending the mortgage advance?
6.7.1 17/11/2015 CML
New Build Conveyancing
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
3.1.6 01/12/2014 CML
verification of identity
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
6.14.3 01/12/2014 CML
notification of non-renewal/cancellation for buildings insurance policy
6.14.4 01/12/2014 CML
sending a copy of the buildings insurance policy and last premium
6.14.1 01/12/2014 CML
Building Insurance
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One approved lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
3.1.3 01/12/2014 CML
Conveyancing Solicitors Details for Sellers
Do The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One 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
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)

Last update 15/01/2019

RBS - Virgin One Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

My fiance and I are FTBs. Within the 48 hours our solicitor has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. RBS - Virgin One have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that they have now hit a problem as our conveyancer is not on their approved list of lawyers. Is this a problem?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.

In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your solicitors should contact RBS - Virgin One and see if they can apply for membership of the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable RBS - Virgin One will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it will likely delay the transaction as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

I am purchasing a newly constructed flat and my conveyancer is informing me that she is duty bound to reveal incentives from the builder as her firm is on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to sign contracts and I have no desire to delay matters. Can I insist on an exchange regardless of what my lawyer says about being on the RBS - Virgin One panel?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the RBS - Virgin One approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on RBS - Virgin One). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I require the services of a RBS - Virgin One panel solicitor in Stirling. Could you help me?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a RBS - Virgin One panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to RBS - Virgin One to find out which solicitors in RBS - Virgin One are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
What are the common reasons for a lender such as RBS - Virgin One to withdraw a mortgage offer?
Lenders such as RBS - Virgin One can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. In the unlikely event that RBS - Virgin One withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • RBS - Virgin One may amend or withdraw an offer if the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel solicitor is unable to confirm compliance with any of the conditions of the mortgage offer or if any of the terms of the mortgage offer cannot be satisfied
  • A cashback to the buyer, or | part of the price includes a non-cash incentive to the buyer (eg paid stamp duty land tax),or | any indirect incentive (cash or non cash) or rental guarantee, of which the lender was previously unaware
  • Situations where information provided by the borrower that enabled the lender to make a lending decision is fraudulent, incorrect or misleading.
  • Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
  • If the solicitor on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel acting for the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor cannot comply with RBS - Virgin One ‘s instructions
My brother and I have agreed a price on a house I spoke to a lawyer recommended by my mum and he suggested using a property lawyers approved by RBS - Virgin One. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked RBS - Virgin One if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. RBS - Virgin One pointed out that either practice can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of RBS - Virgin One 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask RBS - Virgin One for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Lenders have them all over the country. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet RBS - Virgin One’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
I am selling my house. I had a double glazing fitted in month 7 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, RBS - Virgin One are being problematic. The solicitor who is on the RBS - Virgin One conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but RBS - Virgin One are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do RBS - Virgin One have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that RBS - Virgin One have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why RBS - Virgin One may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.