Common questions asked concerning the Halifax Solicitor Panel
from members of the public
I appointed a firm of solicitors to conduct the legal paperwork on my remortgage three weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Halifax. The law firm assured me that they are on Halifax conveyancing panel and provided me their panel number. Halifax then called me to say that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What happens next? Do I instruct a different law firm currently on the conveyancing panel for Halifax?
You may be very frustrated with the lawyer but if it only go take a few more days they it may be worth waiting as, depending on how far progressed you are you may end up delaying the transaction by a number of weeks if you need to replace your solicitor You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Halifax as to the time frame to get your lawyer reinstated on the panel once again.
We are nearing 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 coming from anyone other than me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the home loan so is it really necessary for this now to be an issue?
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 see that you have a search directory listing law firms on the Halifax conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for my house purchase?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Halifax conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
We're in Liverpool, FTBs purchasing 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
Can you point me to a directory of Halifax panel solicitors 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 was told two weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed
to by Halifax. Is it usual for Halifax to only issue the offer once my
solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
A lender would 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.
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.