Whistletree 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 such as AmTrust. 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. While utilising the tool is not a condition for acceptance on the Whistletree panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Whistletree’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The software generates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Whistletree

Mortgage companies frequently vary 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 CML 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.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
10.7 28/04/2017 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
In the event of a delayed completion, when and how is advance to be returned to Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) by the approved lawyer?
1.11a 28/04/2017 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) for approved lawyers to obtain mortgage documentation
14.2.1 28/04/2017 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Where should conveyancing panelfor Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) send the title deeds and documents following completion?
6.7.1 09/02/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes

Last update 27/03/2020

Whistletree Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

Is there a reason why all property lawyers are not on the Whistletree Conveyancing panel?
Even though it may seem unfair for Whistletree to restrict who can act for them from the public’s or solicitor’s point of view, the other side of the coin is that the lenders are becoming ever more anxious and feel the necessary need to protect them from mortgage fraud and other illegal activities. As a result of this concern Whistletree are limiting their conveyancing panel to a size that they are happy to control. The Whistletree lawyer panel is not the most difficult to join
I do hope you can help me. My lawyer is advising me that he has to order a Local Authority search stemming from the fact that the firm are on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with Whistletree 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 Whistletree’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Whistletree. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Whistletree conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Whistletree approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Whistletree conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Whistletree solicitor panel.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Whistletree conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Whistletree 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.
Can I be sure that the solicitor on the Whistletree panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a sensible start. 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 advocate that you speak with the solicitor conducting your transaction
I am selling my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in month 6 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, Whistletree are being difficult. The solicitor who is on the Whistletree conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but Whistletree are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Whistletree have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Whistletree have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Whistletree 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.
Whistletree have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Whistletree or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Whistletree will tell you what documents they want. Whistletree will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Whistletree will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.