Halifax Conveyancing Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public
For what reasons would a law firm be excluded from the Halifax approved conveyancing panel?
According to a recent survey report by the solicitors regulator three quarters of law firms had been excluded from a lender panel. The most common reasons in order are :
- lack 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
I am purchasing a brand new flat and my lawyer is telling me that she has to disclose incentives from the builder as her practice is on the Halifax conveyancing panel. I am on a tight deadline to sign contracts and I would rather not delay deal. 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.
Whilst your website is a good idea there are many lawyers listed near Middlesbrough on the Halifax conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for Halifax ?
We do not recommend specific firms as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. We recommend that you speak to 3 or 4 lawyers listed before you make your choice..
I am attempting to get my ex-wife taken off the mortgage deeds. Can Halifax really tell me which solicitor I can or can not retain?
You can use any solicitor you like but Halifax then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Halifax solicitors panel
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from Halifax as we wish to carry out alterations or improvements our home. Do we need to appoint a solicitor on the Halifax conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
Halifax do not ordinarily instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they did require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Halifax list
I have today made my last payment due on mortgage with Halifax. I assume I don't need a solicitor on the Halifax panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm
If you have finished paying off your Halifax mortgage they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Halifax mortgage from the register. Halifax,and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
but are not moving to another property
where the Halifax has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
the Halifax has instructed the Land Registry to do so
The Land Registry will send you a letter confirming that your Halifax mortgage has been paid off.
I am due to exchange contracts on my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in month 2010 but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, Halifax are being difficult. The solicitor who is on the Halifax conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Halifax are requiring 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.
