Habito Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

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

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their requirements, with automatic updates on Habito’s changes. Even though using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a prerequisite for Habito , demonstrating you can stay up to date with Habito’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

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

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Lenders often 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


Since 2008, Habito has made 1 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 2730.0 days. In total, 0% 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 Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

I appointed a firm of solicitors to carry out on my house purchase three weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Habito. The solicitors confirmed to me that they are on Habito conveyancing panel and gave me their panel number. Habito then told me that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What happens next? Do I instruct a different law firm listed on the approved panel for Habito?
You may be very frustrated with the lawyer but if it only go take a few more days they it may be worth waiting as, depending on how far progressed you are you may end up delaying the transaction by a number of weeks if you need to replace your solicitor You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Habito as to how long they think it will take to get the firm to get back on the panel.
We are only a couple days away from an exchange and my parents having sent the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my lender Habito. I am advised that, being on the Habito conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Habito if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the mortgage so is it really necessary for this now to be an issue?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Habito to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to Habito if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I have been searching for conveyancing quotes online. Can I be assured that all the law firms that are listed on your directory are on the Habito conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices listed on our site have advised us 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.
My aunt passed away last year and as sole heir and executor was left the house. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £5k. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Habito , pay off the mortgage etc. Is this allowed?
If you intend to re-mortgage then Habito will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Habito conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Habito conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Habito mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
Is there a list of Habito panel solicitors 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.
We were going to get a DIP from Habito this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the Habito recommend a solicitor on the Habito conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Habito conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Habito through the process.
The mortgage over my property is with Habito. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. In the event that I decide to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Habito?
Habito must be informed of your intention before letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Habito’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Habito will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Habito directly. You need not do this via a Habito conveyancing panel firm.