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Habito Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Looking for information about your firm's panel status?

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How can my firm apply to be on the Habito Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status
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How can my firm be reinstated onto the Habito Conveyancing Panel?
Check your firm’s panel Status

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. It is supported by PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This software facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on Habito’s changes. Notwithstanding that utilising the software is not a prerequisite for Habito , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Habito’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, safeguard your panel standing.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Habito

Mortgage companies often change 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, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Habito has made 14 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the UK Finance Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 195.0 days. In total, 7% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Habito have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,
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Common questions asked concerning the Habito Solicitor Panel from members of the public

On what basis would a firm of solicitors be excluded from the Habito solicitor panel?
A survey recently commissioned by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority found that three quarters of law firms had been removed from a lender panel. The top reasons in order are :
  1. Low volume of transactions
  2. the lawyer is a sole practitioner
  3. as part of the HSBC panel reduction
  4. regulatory contact by SRA
  5. accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Habito
Expecting to move into my new home next Tuesday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for Habito. What risks do Habito expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on the Habito conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Habito’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Habito). Being on the Habito conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these requirements.
I have been Googling for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be confident that all the law firms that are identified on your site 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 lender or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Habito conveyancing panel is not accurate.
My lawyers in Birmingham have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with Habito. Is it case that being on the Habito conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the Habito Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Habito directly.
Is there a list of Habito panel conveyancers on the Building Society Association’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Is it common for Habito to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Lenders such as Habito can revoke their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. should Habito withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are various possible reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • If the financial circumstances of the borrower have changed to the detriment and the Habito has been notified
  • A cashback to the buyer, or | part of the price includes a non-cash incentive to the buyer (eg paid stamp duty land tax),or | any indirect incentive (cash or non cash) or rental guarantee, of which the lender was previously unaware
  • Following advice from the property assessor on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion
  • Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
  • Where the lender is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat. I have a mortgage offer with Habito. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Habito you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Habito conveyancing panel.