UK Lenders We Provide ILA For
157+ UK lenders — Independent Legal Advice from £150 + VAT — Same-day appointments available
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Poppy LLB
Solicitor
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Zain
Solicitor
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Mohsin
Solicitor
How Can We Help You?
To enquire about a specific lender:
- Name of your lender
- Type of transaction (mortgage, guarantee, etc.)
- Approximate amount of the loan or facility
- Your preferred appointment time
If you've been told by your mortgage broker, lender, or solicitor that you need to obtain Independent Legal Advice (ILA) before your loan can complete, the first question is usually: "Will my lender accept their advice?"
The answer is almost always yes. We work with virtually every UK-regulated lender — from the largest high street banks to the most specialist bridging finance providers. We maintain an up-to-date database of each major lender's ILA requirements, certificate formats, and any specific clauses they require us to address during your appointment.
If your lender isn't listed below, please don't worry — contact us directly and we'll almost certainly be able to help. The list below shows the lenders we work with most regularly, but our service extends across the entire UK lending market.
Lenders We Work With
High Street Banks (20 lenders)
Specialist Buy-to-Let Lenders (23 lenders)
Bridging Finance Lenders (30 lenders)
Specialist Commercial & Development Lenders (20 lenders)
Building Societies (40 lenders)
Challenger Banks & Specialist Lenders (24 lenders)
Most Common ILA-Requiring Transactions by Lender Type
High Street Banks
Major banks typically require ILA for: personal guarantees on business loans, occupier's consent forms, second charge mortgages, and family loans secured against property. Most accept video-call ILA.
Specialist Buy-to-Let Lenders
Specialist BTL lenders almost universally require ILA for director's personal guarantees on limited company mortgages. The Mortgage Works, Paragon, Kent Reliance, Landbay, Foundation Home Loans, Precise, Aldermore, Shawbrook, Fleet Mortgages and others all require ILA before completion. Each has slightly different documentation — we are familiar with all of them.
Bridging Finance Lenders
Bridging loans almost always require ILA due to the higher risk profile, shorter terms, and elevated interest rates. We work with all major UK bridging lenders including Octopus, United Trust Bank, Hope Capital, MT Finance, Together, West One Loans and many more.
Building Societies
Building societies typically require ILA in similar circumstances to high street banks — guarantees, occupier consents, second charges, and similar matters. We work with all major UK building societies including Nationwide, Coventry, Yorkshire, Skipton, Leeds, Principality and many smaller regional societies.
Challenger Banks & Specialist Commercial Lenders
For modern challenger banks (Allica, OakNorth, Cambridge & Counties, Hampshire Trust, Recognise, Redwood, Atom, Investec) and specialist commercial lenders, we provide ILA for director's personal guarantees, debentures, and commercial security documents. We understand the specific documentation each lender uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide ILA for all UK mortgage lenders?
We provide Independent Legal Advice for over 157 UK lenders, including all major high street banks, specialist buy-to-let lenders, bridging finance providers, building societies, and challenger banks. If your lender is not listed, please contact us — we can almost certainly help and add them to our roster.
Does my specific lender accept ILA via video call?
The vast majority of UK lenders now accept Independent Legal Advice provided via Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime or other video conferencing. Some lenders — most notably Fleet Mortgages — still require face-to-face appointments. We will confirm your specific lender's requirements before booking.
Are ILA fees the same regardless of which lender I'm using?
Our standard ILA fee is £150 + VAT and applies to most standard transactions regardless of lender. More complex transactions (multiple guarantors, high-value commercial guarantees, overseas directors) may carry a higher fee, which we will quote clearly in advance.
Why do different lenders have different ILA requirements?
Each lender has its own risk appetite, internal policies, and interpretation of the principles set out in Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2) [2001]. Some lenders insist on face-to-face appointments, some accept video; some require their own specific certificate format; some require specific clauses to be explained. We maintain a database of each major lender's requirements.
What lender documents do you need to provide ILA?
Typically: the mortgage offer or facility letter, the personal guarantee or other ILA-triggering document, any deed (such as a Deed of Guarantee), and the lender's ILA certificate template if they have one. Plus client ID and proof of address. We have a checklist we will send you when you book.
Do you work with specialist buy-to-let lenders for limited company mortgages?
Yes. We provide ILA for director's personal guarantees with all major specialist BTL lenders including The Mortgage Works, Paragon Bank, Kent Reliance, Landbay, Foundation Home Loans, Precise Mortgages, Aldermore, Shawbrook, Fleet Mortgages, and many more. We're familiar with each lender's specific Deed of Guarantee.
Can you provide ILA for bridging loan transactions?
Yes. Bridging finance almost always requires ILA due to the security structures and high interest rates involved. We work with all major UK bridging lenders including Octopus Real Estate, United Trust Bank, Hope Capital, MT Finance, Together Money, West One Loans, and others. Same-day appointments available for urgent cases.
Do you provide ILA for Scottish lenders or Scottish properties?
Yes. We provide ILA to clients in Scotland and on Scottish property transactions. Scottish ILA can sometimes require additional certification by a Scottish solicitor depending on the lender — we can advise on this case-by-case.
If my lender is not on your list, can you still help?
Almost certainly yes. Our list shows the lenders we work with most regularly, but we provide ILA for any UK-regulated lender. Please contact us and we'll confirm we can act on your specific transaction.
Areas we do not currently assist with
While we work with a very wide range of UK lenders, please note that we are not currently able to provide ILA for:
- Equity Release & Lifetime Mortgage products (including those offered by Aviva, Legal & General Home Finance, More2Life, LV=, Just Retirement, Pure Retirement, Canada Life Home Finance, Hodge Lifetime and other Equity Release Council members)
- Transfer of Equity transactions (including transfers between spouses on marriage or divorce)
If your matter involves either of these, please contact an SRA-regulated solicitor who specialises in that area.
My Lender Isn't Listed — Can You Still Help?
Almost certainly yes. The list above shows the lenders we work with most regularly, but our SRA-regulated solicitors can provide Independent Legal Advice for transactions involving any UK-regulated lender. Some smaller or specialist lenders may have particular documentation requirements that we'll need to familiarise ourselves with — but this is rarely an issue and won't delay your transaction.
Please book your appointment or email us at advice@lawyersonline.co.uk to confirm we can help with your specific lender.
For mortgage brokers and intermediaries: if you have a particular lender you work with regularly and want to ensure we're set up to handle their ILA requirements quickly and efficiently, please get in touch with our partnerships team at partnerships@lawyersonline.co.uk.
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Lenders & Companies We Work With
