Landmark Conveyancing Panel Information

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is an association rather than a regulator and therefore will not investigate complaints against lenders. You can of course contact Lexsure to see if we can help.

The CML, along with Landmark and other members created a standard set of requirements where a conveyancer is representing a lender such as Landmark alone in a residential conveyancing matter. These requirements are contained at Part 3 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook and are to be read together with Part I and II. The CML have published an example requirements letter to the borrower’s lawyer for use by the lender's conveyancer, and sets out to the borrower's conveyancer, the documentary and information requirements of the lender's panel lawyer.

In the same way that there is a unique Landmark 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.

During 2013, 105 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by Landmark. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the Landmark 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.

In this situation please clarify on the application what action you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your Landmark panel status. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before termination of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

You would be advised to communicate with Landmark to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates a specific question for lenders to enumerate who to contact to obtain standard documents. Landmark in their Part 2’s state: Always remember to quote your Landmark solicitors panel reference.