Virgin Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by Virgin and to assist in remaining on the Virgin Conveyancing Panel.

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Virgin Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

Do you have any idea what Lenders such as Virgin are asking for when it comes to applying to be on their approved conveyancing panel?

Each lender has different criteria. We do not hold specific requirements relating to the questions raised as part of the application to be on the Virgin conveyancing panel. Typically lenders need to have full knowledge of a firm including (but not limited to):

House price discrepancies (declared to lender vs. registered at Land Registry)

List of all those who fund the firm, including non-lawyers if applicable

Areas of Law covered by the firm

top-up split and history of any refusals

Number of partners per branch of the firm

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

Firm name, address and contact details including all branches (including evidence of existence through risk-based physical visits and Google Streetview checks)

Charge registration history

Full career history for each solicitor including admission date to the relevant Law Society

List of all solicitors within firm

Are there conditions,outside the CML Part 2 requirements, that a firm should be aware of when on the Virgin conveyancing panel?

In order to be on the Virgin 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 Virgin) are as follows:

That any deeds you borrow from us in connection with the personal mortgage of a partner or director at your firm must be requested by a partner or director other than the partner or director concerned and the transaction must be handled by that other partner or director. If you are a sole practitioner and require the loan of deeds in connection with your own mortgage, you must nominate a different firm on our panel to request the deeds and handle the transaction.
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
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.
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.)
To be responsible for the reconstitution of the title deeds (whether the title is registered or unregistered, at your own cost), where any deeds in your possession, or were last known to be in your possession, go missing.

I have read a number of legal articles recently about firms being sued for non-compliance with Part 2 requirements . I am on the Virgin conveyancing panel can you tell me how Part 2 changes took place by Virgin during 2013?

During 2013, 195 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by Virgin. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the Virgin 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.

The firm that I work for is on the Virgin conveyancing panel. I am dealing with Virgin mortgage on a purchase. My borrower client is asking not to disclose an issue to Virgin. What do I do in this conflict situation?

When a solicitor is acting for both Virgin and borrower there is potential for conflicts to arise. You owe duties to both clients. All information received by you from your client is confidential and cannot be disclosed without the client’s consent. In the situation you find yourself in if the purchaser will not consent to the information being passed on to the lender the solicitor must cease to act for the Virgin and it may well be prudent you to cease to act for the purchaser as well. You can not tell the Virgin the reason for termination of the retainer over and above the fact that a conflict has arisen. The fact that you can no longer act should alert even the most somnambulistic of lenders that something is wrong with the borrower and/or purchase. The fact that you have disinstructed yourself should not affect your Virgin conveyancing panel status.

My conveyancing assistant has resigned unexpectedly. I urgently need to prioritise making sure that charges are registered. That said, how quickly do I need to send deeds to Virgin once the charge is registered before my firm runs the risk of being suspended off the conveyancing panel for Virgin?

Virgin will likely expect the deeds to be sent to them within 10 days of you receiving the TID (unless their specific P2 requirements specifically state that they you are not to send them anything). Most COTs refer to complying with the Certificate of Title referred to in IB (3.7) of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, published by the Law Society which states that you ‘will despatch to you such deeds and documents relating to the Property as you require with a list of them in the form prescribed by you within ten working days of receipt by us of the title information document from the Land Registry’ As to whether the lender will suspend your panel status this very much varies according to the lender’s own internal policies The more cases you have the more risk you face. Some lenders may take action if there records show that the deeds are outstanding for more than 3 matters. The fact is that if you keep within the time frame then you will have more chance of remaining on the Virgin conveyancing panel.

Our firm had their Virgin panel membership revoked but we have not yet been given a reason as to why. I am completing a CQS renewal form what information must I put forward?

In this situation please explain on the application what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your Virgin 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?

I am on the Virgin conveyancing panel and all set to complete a remortgage within the next few weeks. My papers do not include a Legal Charge for the client to sign. Who do I contact at Virgin to obtain duplicate documents?

You should contact Virgin to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook includes an explicit inquiry for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents. Virgin in their Part 2’s state:

Always remember to disclose your Virgin solicitors panel number.

Find a Lawyer on the Virgin Conveyancing Panel

Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Virgin

This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.

Year	Days*
2026	[no data]
2025	[no data]
2024	[no data]
2023	[no data]
2022	[no data]
2021	[no data]

* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor

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Please note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors