Hampden Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for property lawyers. Supported by the CML and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system facilitates the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Hampden’s changes. While utilising the tool is not a prerequisite for Hampden , demonstrating you can remain up to date with Hampden’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, more importantly, protect your firm’s panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor creates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory and CQS reports, and will enhance your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Hampden

Mortgage companies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Hampden are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Hampden has made 15 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 182.0 days. In total, 1% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Hampden have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Hampden Solicitor Panel Example Support Desk Enquires from members of the public

I am progressing with the sale of my house and the EA has just e-mailed to say that the buyers are swapping solicitor. The reason given is that Hampden will only engage with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a major lender only deal with specific law firms?
Banks have always had panels of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as HSBC, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for more than 15 years.

Banks blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened and a smaller panel should be easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels, or have other concerns about them. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyer’s case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

My grandson is purchasing a newly built flat with a home loan from Hampden. His conveyancer has advised him of a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the purchase. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Hampden conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when asked.

The Developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it.

The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Hampden conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Hampden conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Hampden approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Hampden conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Hampden solicitor panel.
What happens if my solicitor is expelled from the Hampden Conveyancing panel in advance of the completion date?
The first thing to point out is that, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
I had instructed online conveyancers located in London who are on the Hampden solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £135 for the legal aspects of the Hampden mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Hampden?
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 Hampden but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Hampden will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
My brother and I have had an offer accepted on a apartment I spoke to a lawyer previously used by my mum and he advised retaining a law firm approved by Hampden. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked Hampden if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. Hampden pointed out that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of Hampden 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Ask Hampden for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the Hampden conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto Hampden conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet Hampden’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
I have a mortgage with Hampden. My father retired last week and wants to pay off the mortgage left on the property. After Hampden is paid, I want to transfer the property to my mother's name; How long will it roughly take? Do we need two separate solicitors on the Hampden conveyancing panel? I do not intend to live at the property once the Hampden mortgage is discharged.
You will need a solicitor but they need not be on the Hampden conveyancing panel. You will need a solicitor to draw up the transfer and to deal with the Land Registry formalities. The only thing you need to consider is that by selling at an undervalue so ask your lawyer about the implications. There could be an inheritance tax issue if you die within 7 years of this. There's no capital gains tax for you as it is your main residence.