Handelsbanken Solicitor Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public
I appointed a law firm to conveyancing on my remortgage 4 weeks ago having applied for a mortgage with Handelsbanken. The firm assured me that they are on Handelsbanken conveyancing panel and advised me their panel reference. Handelsbanken then called me to say that their panel number was dormant and would need to be reactivated. What do I do from here? Should I appoint a new solicitor currently on the conveyancing panel for Handelsbanken?
The answer depends on whether you still have confidence in the said solicitors and how long it will take for the firm to be reinstated on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel You may wish to enlist the help of your broker to check with the Handelsbanken as to how long they think it will take to get the firm to get back on the panel.
My solicitor has uncovered a difference between the surveyor’s assumptions in Handelsbanken’s valuation report and what is in the title deeds. My solicitor says that as he is on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel he is obliged to check that the bank is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s approach appropriate?
A precondition to being on the Handelsbanken approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Handelsbanken) which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near London on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. Can you recommend a specific firm on the Handelsbanken approved panel?
We are not in the business of recommending one firm above another 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. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
I am considering applying for a Handelsbanken mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) with 70% LTV. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Handelsbanken?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Handelsbanken conveyancing panel, but Handelsbanken would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same transaction.
I was thinking of purchasing my friend’s property. Assuming we can agree a figure, what’s the best way to proceed? I hope to get a mortgage with Handelsbanken. Is it possible to avoid using solicitors to save us both money? My dad reckons back in the day he did a lot of it himself, just went into the land registry office and providing them with the info they needed himself
If you are getting a mortgage with Handelsbanken involved you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. We would not encourage you to both use the same solicitors' firm. There are clear conflict of interest issues and it's not going to make a huge difference to the speed of the overall process. So as not to hold things us you should pass on your solicitors details to Handelsbanken. Feel free to use our search tool to look for a licensed conveyancer or solicitor on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Handelsbanken conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Handelsbanken about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is addressed by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers I paid an upfront payment of 225. Soon after the conveyancers contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Handelsbanken panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.