Following Santander's decision last year to require all solicitor panel firms in England and Wales to be conveyancing quality scheme (CQS) accredited by the end of March 2013, the Law Society and Santander have been working together to monitor progress and review the agreed approach.
Progress to date has been positive and following recent discussions Santander has agreed to adopt a more flexible approach to the 31 March deadline. The agreement with the Law Society means:
- Any firm which submitted a fully completed application well in advance of the deadline, which is progressing smoothly, will remain on the Santander panel and can continue to take new instructions. (Any firm whose application is ultimately rejected will be removed from the panel).
- Any firm which submits an application close to the deadline will be given 'pending removal' status. This means for the duration of the application assessment, the firm cannot take any new instructions but can continue pipeline cases (where instructions were received before 31 March 2013). If the firm is successfully awarded CQS accreditation, the firm will become a full member of the Santander panel and can take new instructions. There will be no panel application fee in this instance.
- Any firm that does not apply for CQS accreditation by 31 March 2013 will be removed from the Santander panel. Should a firm wish to re-join the panel, the firm will need to apply for CQS accreditation and, if successful, then make an application to the Santander panel. In this instance, an application fee must be paid.
Applications for CQS accreditation undergo a thorough and robust assessment process. It is essential that applications are completed fully and correctly as any omissions will delay application processing.
Assistance on how to complete the application