The Mortgage Works Conveyancing Panel Information

The Mortgage Works’s answer to this question can be found at section 6.4.4 of their CML Part 2 requirements

We are not aware of any intention on the part of the CML to develop such a register.

The Scottish Law Society has advised 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 The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel. The suggestion 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 mumsnet.com

Criteria differ from lender to lender. We do not hold specific requirements relating to the questions raised as part of the application to be on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel. Typically lenders need to have full knowledge of a firm including (but not limited to):

SRA or equivalent regulator registration number where applicable

Automated alerting to inform lenders when there is a fundamental change to the firm (e.g. change of ownership)

List of fee-earners who are foreign qualified

Summary of annual accounts

Whether any lender has ever made a claim against the firm’s PII cover

Whether the firm has ever applied for accreditation and the outcome of the application

purchase and remortgage)

Charge registration history

Number of lender conveyancing panels the firm is currently on

Areas of Law covered by the firm

The Law Society’s CQS accreditation is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a prerequisite for firms wishing to remain on their panels. Some mortgage companies now use the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation as the starting point for Panel acceptance such as Astra Mortgages.

You need to get in touch with The Mortgage Works to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates an express inquiry for lenders to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. The Mortgage Works in their Part 2’s state: You will need to disclose the firm’s The Mortgage Works solicitors panel reference.