Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
MPowered Mortgages Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Do the Council of Mortgage Lenders intend to launch a online directory search tool with a view
to to identify practices on the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel?
Lexsure has not been advised of any intention on the part of the CML to develop such a search facility.
Can you suggest any advice if we wish to appeal being removed from the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel?
If you are removed from the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel and you are unaware of or disagree with the reasons for your removal you should: (a) Contact
MPowered Mortgages directly. (b) If there is an appeals process detailed on your letter you should follow the process.
In appealing a decision by MPowered Mortgages, it may be useful to provide the following information:
- Comprehensive account of your conveyancing history
- A copy of your COMPLETIONmonitor reports if you use that service
- Your recent claims history
- comprehensive details of all employees in your firm and their role.
- Note down if a solicitor has been admitted to the role on completion of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test.
- Supply copy practising certificates, the firm's current PII schedule and the firm’s accountant's certificate, setting out what % of the firm's gross fee income is generated from residential conveyancing transactions
It is encouraging that some firms have been able to regain membership to panels notwithstanding the policy by the respective lenders to refuse panel membership to firms with certain profiles or characteristics. The success is primarily due to the firms’ ability to persuade the lender to make an exception if there is sufficient evidence to reassure them that the firm is well risk-managed.
Is it the case that the Law Society has recommended that firms check their status on the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel?
The Scottish Law Society has advised that solicitors should check their lender panel status prior to accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel. The recommendation arises from the practice of a number of mortgage lenders who remove solicitors from their panels without prior notice as part of their panel management system, which can lead to some solicitors discovering this only once instructed. This is sensible advice as a client finding out midway through a transaction that their lawyer is not on the approved lender panel is very frustrating and can lead to complaints. Many online consumer forums contain posts where someone is complaining about finding that their lawyer is not on a lender conveyancing panel. Such forums include moneysavingexpert.com
Who do building societies include on their Conveyancing Panels?
In the same way that there is a unique MPowered Mortgages
conveyancing panel most building societies, operate a conveyancing
panel for solicitors and other conveyancers that the lender will
instruct. Terms and Conditions and criteria for inclusion on a
building society conveyancing panel vary from lender-to-lender. Having
CQS accreditation may be a requirement. Institutional lenders, such
as a building society, is a client and is entitled to instruct the
solicitor or conveyancer of its choosing (who, in turn, is free to
accept or refuse instructions). Therefore, if lender and borrower
cannot agree which solicitor or conveyancer should represent them
jointly, they would usually proceed on a separate representation
basis. The BSA have not published the equivalent of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook
Part 3s.
In carrying out leasehold title investigations do
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel lawyers have to examine whether there is an absentee freeholder?
Assuming that your firm in is on the
MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel and you are acting for them in relation to a leasehold property, you must report to them if it becomes apparent that the landlord is either absent or insolvent. If
MPowered Mortgages are to lend, they may require indemnity insurance. In any event,you will need to check
MPowered Mortgages’s specific requirements. Notwithstanding whether
MPowered Mortgages will lend in such circumstances you still need to advise the borrower (unless you are acting for
MPowered Mortgages alone) as to the risks of buying a property with an insolvent or absentee landlord.
Our firm had their MPowered Mortgages panel membership revoked but we have not yet been given a reason as to why.
I am completing a CQS renewal questionnaire what details should I put forward?
In the circumstances please clarify on the application what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your
MPowered Mortgages panel status.
In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before revocation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender putting you on notice?
Our practice is on the
MPowered Mortgages
conveyancing panel and scheduled to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. I dont have a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute.
Who do I contact at MPowered Mortgages to request substitute deeds?
You would be advised to get in touch with MPowered Mortgages
to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook contains a specific question for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents.
MPowered Mortgages in their Part 2’s state:
Don’t forget to quote your MPowered Mortgages conveyancing panel number.
Find a Lawyer on the MPowered Mortgages Conveyancing Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of MPowered Mortgages
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2025 | [no data] |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | [no data] |
| 2021 | [no data] |
| 2020 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited MPowered Mortgages Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for MPowered Mortgages borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for MPowered Mortgages panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the MPowered Mortgages lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for MPowered Mortgages
- Consent-to-Let help for MPowered Mortgages
- Contractor Mortgages with MPowered Mortgages
