Conveyancing firms on the former Abbey and Alliance & Leicester (A&L) panels are being asked to sign up to a combined Santander UK panel with new terms and conditions.

Following negotiations with the Law Society, a letter is being sent initially to all solicitors on the A&L panel on a phased basis, detailing the new arrangements.

Solicitors have 28 days to respond to the letter, and if no response is received, a further chase-letter will be sent and the solicitor will be given another 14 days to respond. If no response is received after this time the solicitor will be removed from the panel.

The Law Society said that, following its negotiations since the two institutions were taken over by Santander, panel firms with pipeline instructions have been reinstated to Abbey's mortgage panel and a new procedure for the appointment of new and existing firms has been initiated.

A spokesman said Abbey and A&L have agreed to forward all future mailings relating to panel changes to the Law Society for information.

Chancery Lane said it is also in talks with the Council of Mortgage Lenders and other individual lenders to ensure that solicitors can continue to operate viable conveyancing practices.