Hampden Solicitor Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public
We are purchasing a 3 bedroom flat in London with a mortgage from Hampden. We would like to retain our lawyer but Hampden says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the Hampden panel firms or keep our solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the Hampden conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Hampden
Can you clarify something for me?. My lawyer is not to blame but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Hampden was issued random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My solicitor has advised that as she is on the Hampden conveyancing panel she needs to reorder the searches as they are no longer acceptable to the lender.
One of the many conditions to being on the Hampden approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Hampden)which specifies that a local authority search be not more than half a year old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Hampden.
Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to pop into the offices of the Hampden conveyancing panel solicitor to execute the legal charge? If so, I will appoint a lawyer who conducts conveyancing in Newcastle
so that I can attend their offices when needed.
As opposed to ten years ago, most lenders no longer require their conveyancing panel solicitor to witness the borrowers signature. You will still be obliged to provide ID Documents and there are still distinct advantages to using a local solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in Newcastle
.
The solicitors that just started acting on my house acquisition in Hendon has suddenly shut down. I only went with them because I had to have a solicitor on the Hampden conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Hampden conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to help
Can you point me to a directory of Hampden panel conveyancers on the Building Society Association’s 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.
Is it the case that all solicitors on the Hampden conveyancing panel overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Hampden conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Hampden 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 Hampden or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Hampden will tell you what documents they want. Hampden 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. Hampden 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.
