Kent Reliance Conveyancing Panel Information

The CML is not a regulator and therefore do not investigate complaints against lenders. You can of course contact Lexsure to see if we can help.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (or the BSA) do not involve themselves in training however they do provided a number of general legal related conferences which are attended by firms on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. It is our intention to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on Kent Reliance’s Part 2 obligations. Solicitors on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel are welcome. Information about the webinar will be communicated as part of the LENDERmonitor P2 change Notifications.

In order to be on the Kent Reliance 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 Kent Reliance) are as follows:

• 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
• 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 carry out our instructions with reasonable care and skill, ensuring that all employees carrying out mortgage work on our behalf are qualified and competent to do so
• 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.
• To forward the title deeds and documents to another solicitor/conveyancer within 24 hours of an instruction from us requiring you to do so. On forwarding the deeds as instructed you will confirm to us that you have done so. Upon receipt of your confirmation, we will release you from all undertakings relating to your holding the title deeds.

During 2013, 17 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by Kent Reliance. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the Kent Reliance 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 Law Society’s CQS membership gives 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 join their approved list of firms. Some mortgage companies now use the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC.

You need to contact Kent Reliance to obtain standard documents. The CML Handbook includes an individual section for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents. Kent Reliance in their Part 2’s state: Always remember to quote your Kent Reliance conveyancing panel number.