Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
Platform Conveyancing Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Is it true that the Law Society has advised that firms check their status on the
Platform conveyancing panel?
The Law Society of Scotland has suggested that solicitors should check their lender panel status before accepting client instructions to act. The advice is lender-agnostic as it does not relate specifically to solicitors on the
Platform 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
Given my firm’s membership on the Platform conveyancing panel how long am I expected to retain the complete conveyancing file?
The CML Part II requirements of
Platform are silent on this. Most lenders deal with the issue of file retention via their Terms and Conditions where they generally provide that for evidential purposes, the firm must keep the file for a minimum six years from the date of the mortgage. Data imagining is normally
suitable compliance with this requirement. Many lenders point out in
that it is the practice of some fraudsters to demand the conveyancing
file on completion in order to destroy evidence that may later be
used against them. It is therefore important to retain these
documents to protect Platform’s interest. To be
absolutely sure of Platform requirements in this regard
please check the Terms and Conditions of Platform’s
conveyancing panel acceptance.
What type of firms do building societies accept on their Conveyancing Panels?
In the same way that there is a unique Platform
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.
I noticed the following question on my PI renewal form this year ‘Has your Firm been asked by a lender to agree to more onerous terms and conditions than provided for in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook?’ My firm is on a number of bank panels including the
Platform conveyancing panel. We have Terms and Conditions of appointment which we are duty bound to comply with. Do I disclose these these Terms ?
The key here is the caveat ‘more onerous’.
You have to try and take an objective view as to whether the Terms relating to the
Platform conveyancing appointment (or other terms for other lenders) are ‘more onerous’ than the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Conditions. Depending on the Terms you may need to provide details on your renewal form. If you are in any doubt please call your broker to discuss before completing the answer.
We are a 3-partner firm on the Platform conveyancing panel. Do you have ideas as to how we can market our firm as specialists in conveyancing in Hendon authorised to act forPlatform?
11 borrowers attempt to locate a solicitor on the Platform panel each month in Hendon. Please contact the team at lenderpanel.com to see how your firm can be identified by those searching for conveyancing in Hendon.
my firm’s membership of the
Platform conveyancing panel was revoked but was reinstated on appeal, do I need to disclose this information on my application for CQS accreditation?
We would recommend that you supply details of the date of removal, information on the reason for
removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This
should not adversely impact your application but gives the Law Society a complete picture of what has gone on.
My firm is listed on the
Platform
conveyancing panel and due to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. I dont have a Legal Charge for the client to execute.
Who do I contact at Platform to get a duplicate Deed?
You need to get in touch with Platform
to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook has an individual question for lenders to cite who to contact to obtain standard documents.
Platform in their Part 2’s state:
You will need to quote your Platform solicitors panel reference.
Find a Lawyer on the Platform Solicitors Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Platform
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2026 | [no data] |
| 2025 | [no data] |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | 49.5 |
| 2021 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited Platform Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Platform borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Platform panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Platform lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Platform
- Consent-to-Let help for Platform
- Contractor Mortgages with Platform
