Zephyr Mortgages Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk management tool.

This software optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Zephyr Mortgages’s changes. While utilising the tool is not a condition for acceptance on the Zephyr Mortgages panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Zephyr Mortgages’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates 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 reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Zephyr Mortgages

Lenders often vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Zephyr Mortgages 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, Zephyr Mortgages has made 44 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 62.0 days. In total, 24% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Zephyr Mortgages 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
16.4.2 15/11/2018 CML
Tenancy Agreements
Does Zephyr Mortgages need to be sent a copy of the proposed tenancy?
16.3.2 31/10/2018 CML
Transfer of Equity
Zephyr Mortgages details for requesting debt amount
16.5.3d 31/10/2018 CML
Option Agreements
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for conveyancing panel lawyers to send option agreements .
3.2.4 31/10/2018 CML
Sellers not having Legal Representation
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for conveyancing panel lawyers to used where Zephyr Mortgages needs to be notified when the seller does not have legal representation.
5.14.10 31/10/2018 CML
Leasehold Conveyancing
Zephyr Mortgages panel lawyers leasehold conveyancing requirements : contact for service charge matters
5.1.1 31/10/2018 CML
Properties owned for less than 6 months
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for conveyancing panel lawyers where there is a restriction on use.
6.11.1 31/10/2018 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Redevelopments and Road Proposals
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for approved lawyers to used where Zephyr Mortgages needs to be notified where property is affected by redevelopment or road proposals.
Obstruction of Access Indemnity Insurance
6.12.1 31/10/2018 CML
Pre-emption Rights, Options and Pre-emption Rights
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for conveyancing panel lawyers to used where Zephyr Mortgages needs to be notified where property is affected by pre-emption rights, resale restrictions, options etc .
6.13.1 31/10/2018 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Improvement or Repair Grants
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for approved lawyers to used where Zephyr Mortgages needs to be notified where property is affected by improvement/repair grant which will not be discharged.
5.2.1 31/10/2018 CML
Seller not registered
Contact details at Zephyr Mortgages for approved lawyers for where the seller is not the owner or registered proprietor and is not listed in the exceptions in the CML Handbook P1.

Last update 13/05/2019

Frequently asked questions relating to the Zephyr Mortgages Solicitor Panel from members of the public

I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Zephyr Mortgages fees should I instruct my family lawyer. How efficient are the Zephyr Mortgages conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH provided that they are good and reasonably priced. Would you recommend a specific law firm on the Zephyr Mortgages panel?
Zephyr Mortgages’s conveyancing panel is substantial so it would be advisable to check with the firms you are getting quotes from that they are on the panel. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Zephyr Mortgages will allow to act for them.
My lawyer has uncovered a difference when comparing the assumptions in Zephyr Mortgages’s home valuation survey and what is in the legal papers for the property. My lawyer says that as he is on the Zephyr Mortgages conveyancing panel he is duty bound to ensure that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my conveyancer’s approach appropriate?
A precondition to being on the Zephyr Mortgages approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Zephyr Mortgages) 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 you.
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your directory have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Zephyr Mortgages solicitor panel?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders or BSA do not require online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
My conveyancers in Liverpool have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Zephyr Mortgages. Is it case that being on the Zephyr Mortgages conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Zephyr Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Zephyr Mortgages directly.
Is it the case that all conveyancing lawyers on the Zephyr Mortgages conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
Can I be sure that the solicitor on the Zephyr Mortgages panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a good 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 recommend that you speak with the lawyer handling your transaction
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Zephyr Mortgages be concerned
As your lender is Zephyr Mortgages your lawyer must to check the Zephyr Mortgages conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Zephyr Mortgages . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Zephyr Mortgages where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.