New Street Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Information

Paragraph 16.2.1 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook relevant to a solicitor on the New Street 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’.

In the same way that there is a unique New Street 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.

During 2013, 0 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by New Street Mortgages. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the New Street Mortgages conveyancing panel you are of course obliged to comply with individual lender requirements, as set out in Part II of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. Locktons have recently pointed out in an article that non-compliance with Part 2 requirements account for a number of high value claims, and it is therefore important to be aware of any particularly onerous terms that an individual lender may impose.

Remember: CML requirements are not guidelines; they are the lender client’s instructions.

For most lenders participation on the lender's panel of conveyancers is at the absolute discretion of the the lender. Many lenders reserve the right to accept or reject any application without giving any reason. You should check your original application to join the New Street Mortgages conveyancing panel to see if you are entitled to a reason.

In this situation please explain on the form what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your New Street 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 advising you as to their reasons?

You would be advised to get in touch with New Street Mortgages to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook incorporates an explicit inquiry for lenders to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. New Street Mortgages in their Part 2’s state: It helps to quote the firm’s New Street Mortgages conveyancing panel reference.