Habito Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Habito’s changes. Even though utilising this technology is not a prerequisite for Habito , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Habito’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces COLP and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. In addition it is simply to use, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Habito

Mortgage companies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Habito are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


To find out more about lender panel compliance,

Book a Personalised Demo

Common questions asked concerning the Habito Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

My husband and I are hoping to buy a 2 bedroom flat in Newcastle with a mortgage from Habito. We have a lawyer but Habito says she’s not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct one of the Habito panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Habito conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Habito
Our nephew is about to exchange on a newly built flat with a home loan from Habito. His lawyer has said that there is a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The form is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the purchase. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Habito conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when requested.

The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.

The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Habito conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

I have been Googling for competitive conveyancing fees. Can I be confident that all the law firms that are identified on your website are on the Habito conveyancing panel?
The law firms on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the Habito panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Habito panel. To date we have not been informed by either a mortgage company or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Habito conveyancing panel is incorrect.
I am trying to get my ex-wife removed the mortgage deeds. Can Habito really tell me which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but Habito then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Habito solicitors panel
We have a mortgage agreed in principle with Habito. Solicitors have been chosen? How long does it take for Habito to send the offer to our conveyancer
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Habito done the valuation? Have you advised Habito as your lawyers details and checked that your lawyer is on the Habito conveyancing panel? sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued
Can I register a complaint to Habito about the lawyers being on the Habito conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Habito about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.

The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.

If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.

I recently had an offer accepted on a house. My mortgage broker suggested a solicitor I paid an upfront payment of 200. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Habito conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Habito panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.