Halifax Solicitor Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public
The solicitor my fiance and I had intended to instruct on a purchase said he would charge more if my mortgage is with Halifax due to their unusual legal requirements. Am I likely to be frustrated using Halifax? Is Halifax conveyancing so much more difficult?
Halifax conveyancing requirements for their panel are no better or no more complicated than most lenders.
It is the case now the CML Handbook, the "bible" used by solicitors to establish lender requirements, is different for each lender.
It is not clear if your lawyer is on the Halifax conveyancing panel. If they are not, this does add further risk of delay as Halifax will appoint their own solicitors to look after their interest.
can you help? My conveyancer is informing me me that she is duty-bound to conduct a Local Authority search stemming from the fact that the firm are on the Halifax conveyancing panel. Is this really necessary?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are taking a mortgage with Halifax your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Halifax’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Halifax. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Do all mortgage companies provide you with an approved list of solicitors? How do you know who is on the Halifax conveyancing panel?
The firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Halifax conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Halifax directly.
I was due to complete on my dream home yesterday. My lawyer’s firm is on the Halifax solicitors panel but has moved offices 8 weeks ago and had not informed 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. Most 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 assist.
Is it the case that all conveyancing lawyers on the Halifax conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I hope to get a mortgage with Halifax. Is there anyway to cut out the solicitors to save us both money? My dad reckons back in the day he did a lot of it himself, just went into the land registry office and providing them with the info they needed himself
If you are getting a mortgage with Halifax involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Halifax conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Halifax. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Halifax conveyancing panel.
The for formalities of my purchase has taken place with a loan from Halifax. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Halifax. How does one go about formally complaining?
Almost all lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Halifax branches or the Customer Care Department at Halifax head office. Ordinarily complaints to Halifax are sorted out effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.