Fleet Mortgages Conveyancing Panel Information

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

The Council of Mortgage Lenders, together with Fleet Mortgages and other lenders developed a standard set of requirements where a solicitor is representing a lender such as Fleet Mortgages alone in a residential conveyancing transaction. These legal instructions are contained at Part III of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook and are to be followed in conjunction with Sections One and Two. The CML have published an example requirements letter to the borrower’s lawyer for adaptation by the lender's conveyancer, and sets out to the borrower's conveyancer, the documentary and information requirements of the lender's panel conveyancer.

There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:

• Analysis as to the nature of clients (e.g.existing/new/seen in person)
• Evidence of undertaking logs
• Average time frame to send deeds to the lender (calculated from completion date or title registration)
• Average time frame to register charges at the Land Registry
• Buy to Let transactions

In the same way that there is a unique Fleet 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 the circumstances please clarify on the form what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your Fleet Mortgages panel membership. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before cessation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

You should get in touch with Fleet Mortgages to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook includes an express section for banks to enumerate who to contact to obtain standard documents. Fleet Mortgages in their Part 2’s state: It is likely that you will need to disclose the firm’s Fleet Mortgages conveyancing panel number.