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Whistletree Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

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How can my firm apply to be on the Whistletree Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status
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How can my firm be reinstated onto the Whistletree Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. It is supported by PI insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

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

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Whistletree

Lenders frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Whistletree 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, Whistletree has made 8 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the UK Finance Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 341.2 days. In total, 2% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Whistletree have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,
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FAQs for the Whistletree Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

My Conveyancer is not listed on the Whistletree Approved Panel. Is it possible for me to continue with my preferred solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the Whistletree panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
The most common options here are as follows:
  1. Complete the purchase with your preferred lawyers but Whistletree will need to instruct a lawyer on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. This will result in additional cost and potential delay.
  2. Get a new solicitor to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the Whistletree conveyancing panel.
  3. Urge your lawyer to apply to join the Whistletree lender panel
Can you help?. My lawyer is not to blame but, my purchase conveyancing has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Whistletree was date stamped random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on 10 days inc Day of week eg. Mon. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the Whistletree conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are now out of date.
One of the many conditions to being on the Whistletree approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Whistletree)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Whistletree.
I note that you have a post code search directory identifying law firms on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Whistletree conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
I am purchasing a right to buy flat and getting a mortgage with Whistletree. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Whistletree conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Whistletree conveyancing panel in your location.
Do the majority of 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 Whistletree conveyancing panel requirements are different to Whistletree’s conveyancing panel criteria.
Is it common for Whistletree to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Banks and Building Societies such as Whistletree can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. If Whistletree withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are many potential reasons but here are 5 examples:
  • Where information comes to Whistletree ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend
  • Many mortgage offers have an expiry date. Your lawyer should check this. Whistletree may amend or withdraw an offer before the end of its validation period if an offer extension is requested and following a re-evaluation of the property the value of the security is below a level which is acceptable to them.
  • 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
  • Where the lender is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
  • If the lender reasonably believe that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is insolvent or is about to become insolvent or has or will have a petition presented or if any one or all enter into any arrangement with their creditors generally or if any one or all should suffer a material change in their financial circumstances
I have agreed a price on a flat I spoke to a conveyancer recommended by my brother and he advised instructing a solicitor approved by Whistletree. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Whistletree if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Whistletree suggested that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Whistletree 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Whistletree to suggest a law firm in your location. 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 Whistletree 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 Whistletree conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Whistletree’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.