Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
Platform Conveyancing Panel: Recently Asked Questions
Do Platform or the Council of Mortgage Lenders run training Courses for the
Platform approved conveyancing panel in the same way that CQS run CPD Courses for accredited firms?
No such training is arranged by the CML however they do host numerous general conveyancing related conferences which are attended by firms on the Platform conveyancing panel. Lexsure intend to run specific lender focused seminars in the coming months including a webinar on Platform’s Part 2 requirements. Solicitors on the Platform conveyancing panel are welcome. Further details will be made available as part of the LENDERmonitor P2 change Notifications.
What can you suggest we do if we wish to lodge an appeal being removed from the
Platform solicitor panel?
If you are removed from the
Platform conveyancing panel and you are unaware of or disagree with the reasons for your removal you should: (a) Contact
Platform directly. (b) If there is an appeals process detailed on your letter you should follow the process.
In appealing a decision by Platform, it may be useful to provide the following information:
- Comprehensive account of your firm’s conveyancing history
- Your COMPLETIONmonitor reports, assuming you use the Lexsure software
- Your recent claims history
- comprehensive details of all employees in your firm and their role.
- Note down if a solicitor has been admitted to the role on completion of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test.
- Forward copy practising certificates, the firm's current PII schedule and the firm’s accountant's certificate, confirming the percentage of the firm's gross fee income is resulting from residential conveyancing
It is encouraging that some firms have been able to regain membership to panels notwithstanding the policy by the respective lenders to refuse panel membership to firms with certain profiles or characteristics. Such an achievement is primarily due to the firms’ ability to persuade the lender to make an exception if there is sufficient evidence to reassure them that the firm is well risk-managed.
Can you give me an example of some of the reports available via COMPLETIONmonitor to support my appeal to be reinstated on the Platform solicitor panel?
There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:
- Number of conveyancing cases by lender
- Average mortgage advance
- Current and historic missed priority dates
- Analysis as to the nature of clients (e.g.existing/new/seen in person)
- Average time frame to register charges at the Land Registry
Are there conditions,outside the CML Part 2 requirements, that a firm should be aware of when on the Platform conveyancing panel?
In order to be on the Platform 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 Platform) are as follows:
- 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.)
- 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 notify us in writing of any change in your details as held on our records for example, change of address, telephone number, document exchange number email address. Notification must be given to us at least 10 days before the change will be effective.
- 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
- 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.
My firm is on the
Platform conveyancing panel. I am dealing with
Platform mortgage on a purchase. My borrower client is asking not to disclose an issue to
Platform. What do I do in this conflict situation?
When a solicitor is acting for both
Platform 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 Platform
and it may well be prudent you to cease to act for the purchaser as
well. You can not tell the Platform 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 Platform conveyancing
panel status.
Our membership of the
Platform conveyancing panel was suspended but was reinstated on appeal, do I need to include this information on my CQS application?
You should provide details of the date of removal, information on the reason for
removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This
should not negatively affect your firm’s application but gives the CQS team viability as to what has gone on.
My firm is listed on the
Platform
conveyancing panel and due to complete a remortgage shortly. My papers do not include a Mortgage Deed for the client to sign.
Who do I contact at Platform to get a duplicate Deed?
You should contact Platform
to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates an explicit inquiry for lenders to set out who to contact to obtain standard documents.
Platform in their Part 2’s state:
Please remember to quote your Platform solicitors panel number.
Find a Lawyer on the Platform Solicitors Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Platform
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2025 | [no data] |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | [no data] |
| 2021 | [no data] |
| 2020 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited Platform Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Platform borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Platform panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Platform lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Platform
- Consent-to-Let help for Platform
- Contractor Mortgages with Platform
