Halifax Solicitor Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public
I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Halifax fees if I use my own solicitor. How efficient are the Halifax conveyancing panel solicitors? I'm happy to use any solicitor in the country TBH as long as they're good and reasonably priced. Would you recommend a specific law firm on the Halifax panel?
Halifax’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so your best bet is just to check with the firms you are getting quotes from whether they are on it. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Halifax will allow to act for them.
I am purchasing a newly constructed duplex and my conveyancer is informing me that she is duty bound to disclose incentives from the seller as her firm is on the Halifax conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange and my preference is not to prolong matters. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Halifax approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Halifax). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I have been looking for online conveyancing estimates. Can I be assured that all the law firms that are identified on your site are on the Halifax conveyancing panel?
The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices listed on our site have advised us that they are on the Halifax panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Halifax panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Halifax conveyancing panel is incorrect.
My solicitors in Birmingham have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with Halifax. Is it case that being on the Halifax conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
It very much depends from lender to lender 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 Halifax Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting Halifax directly.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have telephoned Halifax on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Halifax conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?
As long as the conveyancer is on the Halifax panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Halifax. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Halifax will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Halifax to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Halifax mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Halifax mortgage in order to sell?
In terms of the Halifax mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Halifax in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.
Halifax have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Halifax or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Halifax will tell you what documents they want. Halifax will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Halifax will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.