The updated UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook will ‘soft launch’ today (1st June), in what the banking industry body said will be a parallel process with the existing handbook ahead of its formal release on the 29thJune.
From today, conveyancers will have advanced access to the new handbook, which will operate from a new platform. The parallel launch will allow UK Finance and users of the handbook to ensure the operating platform and improved functions transition smoothly.
The new handbook has been developed to deliver “a substantial enhancement in the quality and consistency of the services it provides to users”, the organisation said in an update on its website.
It incorporates a range of improvements, including enhanced security with two-factor authentication and “a more resilient, secure, and user‑focused platform”.
Enhanced user configuration functions include improved searches with the option to save favourite searches, alerts for changes to handbook content, and the ability to export and print content.
The handbook will remain free to access for conveyancers, UK Finance confirmed.
Speaking exclusively to Today’s Conveyancer at the UK Finance Annual Mortgage Lunch last week, UK Finance managing director of personal finance and prudential regulation Eric Leenders said UK Finance had “been through a discovery process in the development of the revised Handbook”.
He added: “As we went through this process it became quite clear quite quickly that it was important to ensure the handbook is free at the point of use for conveyancers.”
Conveyancers will need to pre-register for access to the new handbook (one conveyancer per firm). Further guidance on the registration process will be shared ahead of the launch.
“For more information, please look out for our specific communications to handbook users in lender firms, to conveyancers/ solicitors and their professional representative/ regulatory bodies and to third-party businesses which use handbook content for commercial purposes,” UK Finance said.
