Halifax Loans Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and professional indemnity insures. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system assists the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Halifax Loans’s changes. Notwithstanding that using COMPLETIONmonitor is not a condition for being on the Halifax Loans panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Halifax Loans’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your application to their lender panel and, just as importantly, protect your panel status.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. It is also user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, results in a PII saving.

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Mortgage companies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Halifax Loans 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, Halifax Loans has made 151 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 18.1 days. In total, 19% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Halifax Loans have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
6.4.4 31/08/2018 CML
Disclosing Incentives
Halifax panel lawyers additional requirements concerning reporting incentives
6.7.1 10/07/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Halifax panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 19/05/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Halifax panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.14.1 30/11/2015 CML
Building Insurance
Halifax panel lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance
14.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Does the Halifax need to be sent the original mortgage deed and/or any other original title documents by their approved lawyer ?
5.5.1a 01/12/2014 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
6.14.1b 01/12/2014 CML
buildings insurance in joint names or lender interest noted
6.14.1d 01/12/2014 CML
maximum excess re building insurance
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Halifax approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
5.4.5 05/08/2014 CML
Conveyancing Searches: Personal Searches
Halifax panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept personal searches and, if yes, the Halifax requirements
Local Search Indemnity Insurance

Last update 05/11/2019

Common questions asked concerning the Halifax Solicitor Panel from members of the public

My husband and I are hoping to buy a 3 bedroom flat in Leeds with a mortgage from Halifax. We would like to retain our lawyer but Halifax says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Halifax 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 Halifax 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. A further alternative is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Halifax
We are only a couple days away from an exchange and my mum and dad having transferred 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 Halifax. Apparently, being on the Halifax conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform Halifax 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 him to raise this?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with Halifax 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 Halifax if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I am looking to buy a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in who is on the Halifax conveyancing. Can you recommend a local firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Halifax . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
I was expecting to complete on my dream home yesterday. My lawyer’s firm is on the Halifax conveyancing panel but has moved offices 8 weeks ago and had not advised Halifax of their new address. Halifax has locked down the release of mortgage funds until such time as their systems are up to date with the correct details.
This is a rare situation indeed. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Halifax branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can help.
I previously instructed online solicitors based in London who are on the Halifax solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £175 for the legal aspects of the Halifax mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Halifax?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Halifax but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Halifax will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
We have agreed to purchase a house.One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Halifax be concerned
Given that your lender is Halifax your lawyer must to check the Halifax conveyancing instructions contained in the Part of CML Handbook for Halifax . The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Halifax where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales. Requirements for Scotland are due in the near future.
My offer was accepted on an apartment on the 17th January 2014, valuation was booked five days after, all came back fine. Conveyancer appointed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Halifax and chasing them on my offer I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Halifax conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Halifax to deal with your lawyers application to be on the Halifax conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.