Accord Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Information

Section 16.2.1 of Part 1 of the Handbook relevant to a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel reads ‘Our mortgage secures further advances. Consequently, when a further advance is required for alterations or improvements to the property we will not normally instruct a member of our conveyancing panel but if you are instructed the appropriate provisions of this Handbook will apply’.

There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:

• Average mortgage advance
• Number of conveyancing cases by lender
• Evidence of undertaking logs
• Analysis as to the nature of clients (e.g.existing/new/seen in person)
• Average time frame to send deeds to the lender (calculated from completion date or title registration)

In order to be on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel solicitors have to complete an application form and agree Terms and Conditions. A sample of 5 conditions that we see amongst many lenders Terms (but not necessarily Accord Mortgages) are as follows:

• To quote on all communications with us relating to deeds/registration issues, whether by telephone or in writing, the panel number that we provide for each practising address and the mortgage account or application number for the mortgage concerned.
• If you are a sole practitioner, to arrange for appropriate locum cover from our panel where necessary. Your locum must be a member of the Conveyancing panel.
• To keep us informed of the reasons for any delay in your being able to send the title deeds and documents we require to us within 3 months of completion or evidence of proof of registration within that period. (We will send reminders if the deeds have not been received but will not acknowledge receipt of deeds.)
• Without prejudice to your obligation to comply in full with the Safeguards provisions in the CML Lenders’ Handbook, to report to us as soon as possible any suspicion that you have about the genuineness of any transaction in any respect.
• You have the consent of all borrowers to apply for the deeds, before making any request for deeds. We will accept your request for deeds on the understanding that you have obtained such consent. If this is not the case then you should advise our Deeds Services Department in writing when you make your request

In the circumstances please clarify on the application what steps you have taken to discover the reasons behind cancellation of your Accord Mortgages panel membership. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before cessation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

You need to communicate with Accord Mortgages to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook contains an explicit inquiry for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. Accord Mortgages in their Part 2’s state: You will need to quote the firm’s Accord Mortgages solicitors panel number.