Halifax Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public
For what reasons would a law firm be removed from the Halifax approved conveyancing panel?
According to a recent survey report by the solicitors regulator three quarters of solicitor practices had been removed from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
- Low volume of transactions
- the lawyer is a sole practitioner
- as part of the HSBC panel reduction
- regulatory contact by SRA
- accidental removal. We are not aware of the specific or common criteria for removal by Halifax
Much to my surprise my conveyancer has requested from me personal identification documents stating that this is part of his retainer as a solicitor on the Halifax Conveyancing 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
I need to find a Halifax panel solicitor in Belfast. Can you assist?
Unfortunately it’s not apparent why you need a Halifax panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Halifax to find out which solicitors in Halifax are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
We're in London, First time buyers buying with a mortgage (lender is Halifax , but our lawyer is on the Halifax conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Halifax conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
I am about to exchange contracts on a purchase with a mortgage from Halifax. The report from my solicitor mentions that Halifax could withdraw their offer before completion. Is this right?
Banks and Building Societies such as Halifax can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. should Halifax withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
- Where information comes to Halifax ‘s attention regarding the customers or the security that they were not aware of prior to offer that affects their original decision to lend
- Halifax may amend or withdraw an offer if the Halifax conveyancing panel solicitor is unable to confirm compliance with any of the conditions of the mortgage offer or if any of the terms of the mortgage offer cannot be satisfied
- Many mortgage offers have an expiry date. Your lawyer should check this. Halifax may amend or withdraw an offer before the end of its validation period if an offer extension is requested and following a re-evaluation of the property the value of the security is below a level which is acceptable to them.
- Following advice from the valuer on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion
- Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Halifax. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Halifax you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Halifax conveyancing panel.
I am due to exchange contracts on my house. I had a double glazing fitted in month 2010 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's lender, Halifax are being pedantic. The solicitor who is on the Halifax conveyancing panel is recommending indemnity insurance as a solution but Halifax are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Halifax have a conveyancing panel of they don’t accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Halifax have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Halifax may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing correctly and safely installed. It merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.