Accord Mortgages Solicitors Panel extended to BTL mortgages

Accord’s buy-to-let panel expansion in 2013

Accord Buy to Let announced last week that it is widening its solicitor panel. The number now on their panel will be in the region of 2000 strong.

Conveyancing Solicitors on the current Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel will now be accepted for buy to let conveyancing if they possess the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation from the Law Society of England and Wales. It is not clear as to what their position is regarding Licensed Conveyancers who clearly can not qualify for CQS accreditation.

Accord Buy to Let national account manager Chris Maggs says that when the lender first entered the buy-to-let market in 2011 it wanted to operate a limited solicitor panel while it established its proposition. He went on to say  “With the introduction of the Law Society’s CQS scheme we now feel in a position to expand our solicitor panel to include all firms on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel who hold this accreditation.”

Accord seem to be following the lead of Santander who now require firms on their solicitor panel to be CQS-accredited.

Planning an Accord purchase or remortgage today? Read our guide to finding a solicitor on the Accord Mortgages conveyancing panel, including a postcode search and the checks to make before instructing a firm.

Related Accord panel and buy-to-let guidance

For further historical context, see our December 2013 article on five Accord Mortgages panel requirements for sole practitioners, covering accreditation, office availability, locum cover and notification of practice changes. Both articles describe the position reported in 2013; current eligibility should be checked directly with Accord.

For related guidance on transactions involving a property let or to be let at completion, see Accord Mortgages buy-to-let conveyancing requirements on LENDERmonitor. Check the applicable lender instructions and mortgage offer before relying on the summary.