FAQs : The Halifax Solicitor Panel from members of the public
We are hoping to buy a 1 bedroom flat in Leeds with a mortgage from Halifax. We have a lawyer but Halifax says he's not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct 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; Can we not simply insist that Halifax use our lawyer?
No, not really. 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
Much to my surprise my conveyancer has informed me that he requires proof of ID documents asserting that this forms part of his legal duty as a solicitor on the Halifax Solicitor panel. Can this be correct?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with Halifax your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy Halifax
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your directory have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Halifax solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
The solicitors that just started acting on my purchase in London has without warning closed. They were on acting for me because I needed a firm on the Halifax conveyancing panel and my previous lawyer was not. I paid them £200 on account. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Halifax conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist
Is there a list of Halifax panel conveyancers on the CML Handbook 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.
I previously instructed online conveyancers located in Bristol who are on the Halifax solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Halifax mortgage. Is this an additional 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.
Me and my partner are purchasing a terraced house in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to begiven the go-ahead. My friendadvised that we double-check that the conveyancing practitioner in Hendon is on the Halifax list of approved conveyancing firms. Is this really necessary?
A limited percentage of Hendon conveyancing solicitors are on the Halifax conveyancing panel. 7 people a month use our search tool to locate a Hendon conveyancing practitioner on the on the Halifax solicitors pane.
